Are Christians Obligated to Tithe?

Discussing tithes is like tiptoeing through a minefield.  It’s so touchy that many pastors won’t even discuss the subject.  Should Christians tithe?  If so, is it based on our gross or net income?  What if we are in debt?  Does outside income (like gifts and scholarships) count towards my tithe?  The questions go on and on.

First, let’s clarify exactly what we mean when we use the word “tithe.”  Some folks use “tithe” to mean any gift towards God’s work (usually through a church), so if by tithe you mean giving generously, then yes, Christians should tithe.  That is the model provided by the early church (2Cor 8, Acts 4) and is in accordance with the teaching of Jesusand the apostles. 

However, the word tithe comes from an Old English word meaning tenth.  When we hear exhortations from preachers to tithe, they typically mean that we should give 10% of our income to the church.  When used this way, the biblical basis for tithing becomes murky.  Nowhere does the Bible describe the early church as requiring believers to contribute 10% (or any percentage) of their income.  Therefore, we have to look at Mosaic law (or elsewhere) for the 10% requirement.

Yes, there is a requirement to give 10% in the Mosaic law of the Old Testament.  One tenth of all that the land produced was required to be gathered annually (Deut14:22-27).  But that 10% is not as clear-cut as it may seem.  First of all, it applied only to grain, wine, oil, and animal husbandry, not all income.  Carpenters, blacksmiths, weavers, fishermen, field hands, merchants and so forth weren’t required to contribute to this offering (called the second tithe, or ma'aser sheni). 

But that 10% gift was not all that was required under the Mosaic law.  Not even close.  There is the first tithe, or ma'aser rishon (Num18:21-26).  And there was the poor tithe, or ma'sar ani, collected every 3 years (Deut14:28-29).  Again, these tithes were agricultural only, so did not apply to many (most?) people in Israel.  However, these tithes didn’t cover everything the people were required to give.  There were also the many offerings—some required, some voluntary—that the Mosaic law defined.  These included the sin offering, guilt offering, burnt offering, peace offering, grain offering, and drink offering.  Again, while not technically a tithe, they were offerings provided by the people and need to be included when considering what Israelites gave.  When we add all this up, tithes and other giving would easily surpass 20%.

Then is the standard for Christians to be 20% or more, rather than 10%?  No.  First of all, the whole system for tithing under the Mosaic law has been removed.  The temple, the formal priesthood, and the system that supported it was destroyed by God.  In the book of Hebrews, chapters 8 and 9 make clear that the formalities of the Mosaic structure have passed away.  This includes the tithes and offerings the law required.

So, what are we as Christians required to give?  Well, we are “required” to give nothing.  Our salvation was paid for by Christ in his atoning death and resurrection.  There is no requirement to tithe any certain amount.  What should flow from our hearts as Christians is an overwhelming generousness to those in need.  How much should that be?  A good guideline is what Paul told the Corinthian church:  The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:6-7).  If that isn’t clear enough answer for you, then you are asking a hard question.  Ask a hard question and you may get a hard answer: as Jesus told the rich young ruler who persisted in wanting to know what he could do to inherit eternal life, If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me (Matt 19:16-22). 

Give as God leads you to give and as those around you have a need.

Twin Ditches of Salvation

Salvation.  Every Christian claims it in some sense, yet it is one of the least understood doctrines in the Church.  I want to tackle just one little aspect of it: the need to stay out of the twin ditches of ticket-punching and earned salvation.  What in the world am I talking about? 

Well, ticket-punching is my term for those who believe that when someone says a prayer (typically a sinner’s prayer), they have a one-way ticket to heaven.  Nothing left to do, really.  Now, if you want to be a really good Christian, then you can pray, tithe, and try to show up for church on Sundays.  But if you don’t do any of those, it’s okay, because you’re golden.  That’s one extreme view of salvation.

The other extreme view is that of earned salvation.  Here, the newly-minted Christian is told that transformation is key and transformation comes from obedience to God.  Being at church every time the doors are open is the minimum standard.  Get involved in ministries, go on missions, volunteer at the church, give, give, give, and then give some more.  You can never do enough.  Literally.

Why do so many fall into one of these ditches?  One reason is because we are seldom taught the different aspects of salvation.  Salvation isn’t a one-time event in the past and it isn’t something we achieve by merit.  Instead, think of it as having different parts that occur at different times.

I like the analogy of a swimmer who is drowning in a raging, stormy sea.  He’s going down for the last time.  But a lady on shore can see the swimmer drowning and gets in a boat to save him.  She rows out, reaches, and grabs the swimmer’s hand.  She pulls him into the boat.  She rows against the mighty waves to get him near the shore.  They land and quickly run for shelter from the storm.   Now, was the swimmer saved when she grabbed his hand, or when she pulled him into the boat, or on the way back to shore, or when they were on land and in shelter?  The simple answer is: Yes.

And that’s how we look at salvation.  If you are a Christian, it is something that happened to you in the past (election, conversion, justification, regeneration).  It is happening to you now (sanctification, preservation).  It will happen to you in the future (death and glorification).  It’s almost a process: you were saved, you are being saved, you will be saved.  Knowing how that process works will help keep you out of those ditches!

Short-Term Mission

Last February, my wife and I went on a short term mission trip to help at a bilingual Christian school in Honduras.  It was a wonderful opportunity that I hope to take part in again soon.  I've been a team member or leader of six overseas mission trips (as well as some stateside missions).  However, on this trip I spent a lot of time thinking about the effectiveness of short-term missions, which I’d like to share with you.

Generally speaking, we tend to consider short-term mission trips as a way to carry out the Great Commission.  If that’s the case, then I say let’s support them as much as we can.  However, here are some pointers regarding short-term missions:

• Actually fulfill your commission.  I’ve seen too many mission trips where the team accomplished some really cool projects, but the Good News of Jesus was not spread at all.  We have to honor Him with our lives and our lips.  If the only thing that people see are good works, then they will tend to think we are just good people, and that’s absolutely not what we want.  Do the good works as Christ instructed, but be sure they know why you are doing those works.
• Don’t browbeat those you are serving.  What’s the opposite of not mentioning the Gospel at all?  Answer: sticking it to them like a used-car salesman.  I’m sure you’ve seen it: “You need to make a decision for Christ!  Invite Him into your heart right now!”  Yes, we want the lost to repent, believe, and follow Christ.  But God also plays a part, and if someone says the sinner’s prayer because they’re pressured rather than truly repentant, then they’ll end up with buyer’s remorse and be no more saved than before your mission trip.  
• Don’t hold your help hostage.  I’ve seen it before: a mission team has goods and services they are going to give out to those they are there to serve.  However, as a condition of receiving it, the folks are required to sit through a hell-and-brimstone sermon.  “Well”, thinks the native, “if what the North American wants is for me to act ‘saved’ so I can get some free stuff, I’ll act saved.”  How many times have those targeted by mission teams been ‘saved?’  It’s almost a joke, but a sad joke.  If you want to hand out goods and services, then do so, being sure you tell the folks why you are doing what you’re doing, and offering to tell them more if they are interested.  But don’t withhold your support until after you’ve sermonized them.  
• Go for the right reason.  How many times have you heard mission team members come home and talk about how they were themselves blessed by the trip?  No doubt about it: a person doing mission work will be changed, and that’s a good thing.  But always remember that you are there to serve rather than be served.  Along the same lines, make sure you are on the trip for the right motivations.  I’m sure there are folks who need saving at Myrtle Beach, and in Rome, and Hawaii.  But are you really going there to reach the lost and serve the needy as God has called you, or are you actually on a vacation?
• Make disciples!  We’re not called to make converts and certainly not dependents.  Be sure that your team has a plan to join any new believers to a local Bible-believing church so that they can be discipled as they should.  And don’t make the locals’ situation worse by setting up some system where they are dependent on you.  Find out from the long-term missionaries the best way to serve your target audience.
• Be culturally aware.  The Gospel is an offense to the lost.  But we don’t need to add to its offense by being offensive ourselves.  Know your surroundings, learn about the culture in which you are serving, and adapt appropriately.  For example, if the culture where you are serving believes that women should dress modestly in skirts, then women on the team should wear skirts instead of blue jeans.  There are of course limits, but to the extent permissible by God, we should humbly adapt to the culture we serve.  
• Count the costs.  Seriously weigh the financial costs of sending a team versus using that money to help in other tangible ways.  Some mission trips are outrageously expensive and the impact will be negligible.  Please don’t engage the mentality of “Well, if one person was saved, it was worth it.”  Perhaps the money could have been more effectively used to reach twenty people instead of just one!  At the same time, however, don’t neglect the impact of person-to-person relationships.  Factor that into your decision as well.  Sometimes it’s good to send a team; sometimes it’s better to send money to the long-term missionaries.
• Relationships are invaluable.  Yes, it will be a positive factor in the natives’ lives when your team digs a clean-water well.  But the longer impact will be when that village you visited knows that you truly care about them and are praying for them.  That’s why I advocate for teams to re-visit the same location rather than world-hop.  If you repeat a trip to the same community, then you’ll build relationships with them and show them that your Christ-like love and concern for them is real.

Consider these factors and then find a way you can get plugged into mission work, whether it’s in your own hometown or 2,000 miles away!

*Note: A version of this article appeared earlier on BlueToTheBlind.

Random Thoughts of a Radical Christian

Just some thoughts that have been banging around in my noggin for awhile:

-  Why do we refer to the front of the church building as “the altar?”  And why do sermons have “altar calls?”  Christ’s sacrifice did away with the need for an altar.  The altar in church buildings has a pagan background, so we should just stop referring to it as an altar.

-  It sure seems we try our best to straight-jacket the Holy Spirit.  We institutionalize, regulate, and control worship services (and so much else in the church).  We can’t allow chaos, but why don’t more churches loosen up and allow the Holy Spirit more freedom to move?

-  Speaking of the Holy Spirit… are we deliberate in helping folks to identify their spiritual gifts?  Are we intentional in creating avenues for people to use their spiritual gifts?  At a more basic level, do most of our folks even know what spiritual gifts are?

-  Do we Protestants go too far in making the sermon the central part of our worship services?  Is there a limit to how much communal worship we really accomplish during an activity where we passively sit and listen? 

-  Is there no way to improve discipleship?  Let’s face it: most of our congregations are woefully ill-educated about our own religion.  Why?  Because no one is teaching us.  The classes we do have are aimed at the lowest common denominator, rather than challenging our folks.

-  Why are so many churches stuck in the Sunday morning—Sunday evening—Wednesday evening paradigm?  Is this model (which isn’t biblical) outmoded?

-  Why don’t more folks question why we do things the way we do?  The vast majority of what goes on in church services are manmade traditions, so they aren’t sacrosanct.  Are we afraid to try something new?  Are we afraid to seek God’s guidance, because He might send us outside our comfort zone?

I figured I'd just share these for now.  May be the basis of some upcoming posts.

My Personal Jesus

Not too many years ago, many folks were searching for the “authentic Jesus.” They turned to “lost” gospels, found hidden meanings in Jesus’ recorded words, tried to find the Jesus behind the Jesus of the Gospels, and so on.  For various reasons, some folks wanted more than the Jesus that the Church had known and preached for many centuries.  They were looking--sometimes genuinely--for something deeper, yet still credible.

These days, that search for the genuine Jesus has morphed into something much different.  We now look to re-make Jesus into our own image.  He’s not just my personal Jesus. He is actually fully me, only in a robe and sandals. He believes whatever I believe.  His words in the Gospels don’t match my beliefs?  I can choose to ignore them.  I mean, I know my own personal Jesus better than someone writing 2,000 years ago.

As for Jesus’ teachings, well, those need to evolve.  Keep the love, keep the social activities, keep the wise teacher.  Drop all the hard stuff.  

• God is loving, so Jesus can’t be the only way to eternal life.  
• I need time to pursue my own interests and fun activities, so let’s lay off any references to daily bearing the cross, giving up riches, and suffering persecution.  
• We’ll keep Jesus’ command to “judge not,” but forget the rest of the chapter telling us to remove the speck from our brother’s eye and not to allow the pigs of the world to trample holy things.
• God wants me to be nothing but happy and prosperous, so quit telling me about a narrow gate and hard path to life.  
• Hell is an ugly concept, so let’s agree that all roads lead to heaven.  
• I may attend worship service and give some money to the church, to guarantee my home in heaven.  But don’t ask me to do the hard work Jesus gave us or even understand what salvation really entails.
• Jesus loves everybody, so that sin stuff has absolutely got to go.  It’s just too intolerant.

Yep, we turn imago Dei upside down and make God in our own image. Because following the real Jesus is just too hard.

On a Mission

I served in the military for 20 years.  During that time, I was handed many missions by my superiors.  As I progressed in rank, the missions became wider in scope and had greater impact.  Even though the missions were accomplished by working in teams, there was never any doubt about who bore responsibility for success or failure.  If it was my mission, I carried the responsibility.  

These days, I am still on mission.  But what a difference it is from my military missions!  To begin with, I'm no longer in service to my nation.  However, I'm still in service to the Kingdom.  This Kingdom is powerful, able to destroy the very gates of hell.  It has both visible and invisible components.  It is a Kingdom that sounds foolish to those who don’t know it, but gives life to those who do.

Another big difference is that I no longer lead missions.  Lots of Christians say they are on a mission for God, but I have a slightly different view.  I am joining God on His mission.  His, not mine.  He carries the responsibility.  I am simply an agent who has joined others in following our King.

What is that mission?  In simple terms, it is to bring God to people, for His glory.  Look a little closer, and you’ll see it has many aspects.  One primary aspect is to spread the good news about what God did for us through His son Jesus.  Another is to make disciples by teaching and baptizing.  It includes redeeming the world through love, feeding the poor and hurting, welcoming strangers and visiting the sick and imprisoned.  It is growing in community and taking that community to others.

Is it a dangerous mission?  In some ways, it is.  It involves opposition, both physical and spiritual.  There will be serious troubles for those on this mission. But the reward is immeasurable.  

I enjoy being with God on His mission, accompanied by fellow Christians. Whether it’s close to home or a thousand miles away, He has allowed me to both grow and go in service to His kingdom.  What about you?  Do you enjoy being on God’s mission?  Are you seeing new areas where God is at work and you can join Him?  Do you look forward to the struggles that lead to great rewards?

The High-Pressure Sale

Let me say up front: Not all car salesmen are bad.  I’ve worked with a couple that I really liked.  But have you ever experienced high-pressure car salesmen?  You go to the car lot and they fall over themselves trying to be the first to get to you.  As soon as the salesman greets you, he tries his best to convince you to buy a car.  “What will it take to get you into a new a car today?”  Ugh.

For most folks, there are fewer things more unpleasant than buying a car.  We hate it because of the high pressure sale.  The salesmen try to sell us something before we have considered the full cost, value, and need.

Too often, the same thing occurs in Christian evangelism.  I’m sure you’ve seen it.  A Christian tells a non-Christian about the good news of Jesus.  Then, the high-pressure sale is on to get the non-Christian to convert: Jesus wants a relationship and He is just waiting for you right now.  Say this prayer.  Do it now! 

Is this salesmanship biblical?  I don’t think so.  Luke records Jesus telling the crowds that followed Him that they must count the costs before they can be His disciples.  And there are indeed costs to following Jesus.  Some family and friends will ridicule and turn on you for your faith, but you must love Christ more than these broken relationships.  You will have to lose your hold on your possessions.  You will have to endure persecution.  You will have to give up sinful desires. 

The benefits, of course, are far greater than the costs.  But the costs must be considered before deciding to follow Jesus.  In fact, Jesus said that there can be no looking back for His followers.  If we pressure someone into being a ‘convert,’ it will only lead to buyer’s remorse later.  If that is the case, it would have been better never to have pressured them in the first place.

So, do we share the good news of Jesus with non-Christians?  Absolutely!  But we can’t leave out the part that there is a cost to follow Him.  Instead of a high-pressure sale, just tell them the full Gospel.  Remember, it is not our job to ‘convert’ anyone.  Leave that to the Holy Spirit and allow God to call them if He will. 

Time for Communion?

Ahh, Communion.  It may be the one thing that Christians have disagreed over more so than anything else (except maybe the color of the carpet in the church building).  We can’t even agree on the name.  Communion?  Lord’s Supper?  Eucharist?  Breaking of the Bread?  Regardless of what we call it, we know it’s important.  But why is it so important and how should we celebrate it?

Jesus instituted Communion during His last Passover meal.  All four Gospels record the meal, but probably the oldest description of Communion is found in 1 Corinthians11:23-26.  There, Paul describes how Jesus, after the meal, shared the bread and the cup of wine with His disciples, explaining that the bread was His body and the cup was the new covenant of His blood.

So, why is Communion so important?  For several reasons, but I’ll hit on just a few. 

- First, after Paul described the Lord’s final supper, he said that whenever we eat the bread and drink the cup, we “proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.”  In some ways, this ties Communion with baptism: a public proclamation by Christians that we follow a resurrected Jesus. 

- Second, Christians partake in Communion as part of God’s covenant of grace; not that Communion saves anyone, but the bread and wine represent Jesus’ sacrifice for our salvation and forgiveness of sins (Matt 26:28). 

- Third, Jesus said that when we partake in Communion, we do so in remembrance of Him.  We “remember” Him not just as a memorial of His death, but also His life, His resurrection, and His reign. 

Okay, hopefully we can agree that Communion is important for Christians to celebrate.  But how?  Again, here’s a short list.

- Keep it simple.  Jesus didn’t create some elaborate ceremony.  He simply shared the bread and the cup of wine with His disciples.  The more we try to create some high ritual, the less biblical it becomes.

- Celebrate often.  There are extremes in the wider Church: some celebrate only once per year (at Passover) while others celebrate several times a week (sometimes daily).  We can glean from Scripture (1 Cor 11:26; Acts 2:42,46; Acts 20:7) that the early Church celebrated often, probably weekly.  Jesus did not prescribe a certain recurrence, but it’s better to celebrate more often rather than less often.  And don’t worry that celebrating often will diminish its meaning; if that’s true, then we need to cut down on sermons, prayers, and singing.

- Really celebrate!  Communion is not a funeral.  We are not memorializing a dead person.  Our Savior lives, He reigns, and He will return to make all things new.  How can we be so somber when we remember our Lord?  Yes, be respectful.  Yes, humble yourself before the Lord.  But be thankful (the meaning of “eucharist”), be joyful, and celebrate!

- Partake in the community.  When we take Communion, we are gathered together around the table of our king.  The church is also the embodiment of Christ on earth.  There is community between individuals in the congregation and between the congregation and Christ.  Every member should lovingly participate together (see 1 Cor 11:12-22).  (And while I believe wine is appropriate for Communion, remember your brothers and sisters who struggle with addiction or overindulgence, and offer unfermented juice as well.)

- Have a love feast.  Also called an Agape Feast, this is a real meal along with Communion.  That is how Jesus celebrated Communion (remember, it occurred after the Passover meal), and is likely how it was celebrated in the early church.  Time constraints prohibit this in most Sunday morning worship services, but it would be great to celebrate Communion along with a fellowship meal once in awhile.  Try it, you might just enjoy it!

Christians: Please Don’t Just Invite Folks to Church

Christians are a “sent” people.  Jesus’ last commandment was to “Go and make disciples…” and He said that His followers would witness to others all over the earth.  The majority of the church’s mission takes place outside the four walls of some building.

But how exactly are we Jesus’ witnesses?  I have absolutely no doubt that the primary way that most Christians witness to others—if they witness at all—is by inviting unchurched people to church.  I’m sure you may have heard someone extend the Christian invitation: “You should come to church with us.”  Maybe you’ve even used that line yourself.  There are plenty of variations (“we’d be happy to have you visit,” “you should hear our preacher,” etc.), but they are all basically the same.

The idea behind the invitation is that if we could just get the person to visit our church, they will have a chance to hear the pastor’s sermon and be saved.  That’s a lot to lay on a pastor (but we’ll save that topic for a future post).  Even worse, it is non-biblical.  Jesus didn’t tell us to invite unbelievers to a worship service.  He told us to be His witness; to go and tell others about Him.

I really appreciate the intent of Christians who extend a church invitation to their friends.  However, I suggest that instead of inviting people to a church service, invite them to Jesus.  Don’t slough off your responsibility as a witness onto your pastor.  Display Christ to others through your words and actions, and when someone asks you, tell them why you have such a hope within you: because of what Jesus has done—and continues to do—for us all.  And if they are interested in learning more, then invite them to a Bible study, or lunch with a couple of other believers who can answer their questions, or yes, even a worship service.  Just be sure to introduce them to Jesus first.

A Mission of Compassion (Part 2)

My last post was based on the first half of a sermon I prepared a couple of years ago.  This post is the second half.  I ended the last post with the point that God is compassionate, and we are called to show that same kind of compassion.  We’ll pick up there….

Here’s the good news: God is already at work with the lost and hurting people around us.  Look at what Jesus says in verses 37 and 38 of Matthew 9:35-38: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”  Jesus tells us that the harvest is ready. 

Many folks here in Green County live out in the country.  Some of us are farmers.  Almost all of us have gardens.  Let me ask you… when do you think most folks harvest their crops?  Right after they plant the seeds?  When the plant is still coming up out of the ground? 

No, you harvest your crop when the fruit is ready.  God is already ahead of us.  He is growing the plant.  He is preparing it.  People out there want to know the truth.  They want to know God.  They know that there’s something out there bigger than themselves.  They are suffering and they are ready for help.

Why is God calling us to be on mission to the lost and hurting out there?  Because they are ready.  They are ready to be reached.

What happens when you don’t pick the crops when they are ripe?  The harvest rots.  The fruits and vegetables wither up.  I planted a garden a couple of years ago, just like I do every year.  But that year we had a drought.  Most of my plants looked pretty pitiful.  But you know what happened?  It eventually rained at the end of summer.  By then, I had pretty much given up on my garden.  I didn’t even go down to check on it any more.  One day, I figured I’d go ahead and till the garden under and get it ready for winter.  Well, I walked back there and took a look and guess what?  There were tomatoes and peppers and beans all over the garden.  But most of it was spoiled, rotting on the vines, and covered in weeds.  I had not gone out and harvested it when it was ready.  That was a crying shame.

You know what’s a bigger shame?  The lost and hurting people out there who are ready for us to reach out to them.  But we don’t.  We aren’t going into the harvest fields.  We aren’t praying for the harvest.

Harvest work is hard work.  All of you that have worked on a farm know what I’m talking about.  You have to actually get up off your rear end and get out there.  God has already done the heavy lifting, but we need to pray and to work.

And you know what?  It's hard work, but it’s also joyful work.  Bringing in the harvest is a joy.  I tell you, there’s something really satisfying to have cans on your shelf and a deep-freeze full of fruits and vegetables that you harvested yourself.  Think how much more satisfying it is to harvest a soul!  To help somebody who’s hurting.  To tell somebody about the good news of Jesus Christ.  Those cans of beans on the shelf are good, but they pale in comparison to all that.

Let’s go back to my original question.  Based on today’s passage, why should we help the needy and lost?  Because we should be compassionate towards others and because God has already prepared the harvest for us.

Now, here’s what I want you to do.  I want you to commit to something.  Don’t get worried, this is very easy.  I want you to pray each day this week a special prayer.  The same thing Jesus told us to pray for.  It’s a very short prayer.  It goes something like this: “Lord, please send out workers into your harvest.”  That’s not a long prayer.  It’s not complicated.  It’s simple: “Lord, please send out workers into your harvest.”  Please remember to pray that prayer every day this week.  I’m betting that God will answer that prayer with workers who will harvest a good crop.