GIVING TO THE CHURCH (TIP, TITHE, OR TOTAL SURRENDER?)

Giving to the church can often be a controversial subject. Financial questions and concerns often flood our minds. What are they going to do with the money? Does the preacher “just” want my money? Am I required to give even when I am dealing with money messes? Do curses come upon those who don’t give ten percent?

These thoughts and ideas can be exhausting!

Giving to the church should be joyful. The Bible provides absolute liberty as to the amount and frequency of our financial gifts. Giving is done relative to one’s income and financial situation. One can’t give what one does not have. Charitable giving is a matter of the heart.

Tipping

“God only requires 10%,” I have heard well-intentioned preachers say, “Yet we give 15% or more at restaurants,” they continue.

Does God truly require 10%? We will get to that later.

Tipping at restaurants is big business. The wait staff is paid below minimum wage. Their true money-making opportunities come through generous tipping.

It’s proper etiquette to tip in many situations. Exceptional service is the reason behind tipping, though.

Giving charitably with the tipping mindset is problematic.

Faith-Based Financial Sanctions

I recently read a Tweet from a guy recommending financial sanctions against certain churches. Where does one draw the line, though?

The worship leader didn’t play your favorite song? Withhold some money, then. Did the preacher step on some toes? Put the wallet away. The sermon went over by ten minutes so we’re skipping the offering.

Wow, the music was thumping today! The preacher was on fire! Let’s give a big offering this week.

Can you see the issue?

God, How Much?

How much a family gives should be determined by prayer. A husband and wife should be on the same financial page. I suggest that giving amounts should be decided before stepping foot in a church building.

Tipping is a terrible stewardship method. It’s awful to use money as a lever to control the preacher or to get your way.

2 Corinthians 9:7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Giving To The Church — Tithing

The church is evenly split on the doctrine of tithing. Many denominations teach the doctrine of tithing, though.

Tithing, in this sense, is the giving of ten percent of one’s income to the church. The concept is extrapolated from the Old Testament requirement of farmers giving ten percent of their produce to the Levites (Leviticus 27:30) and the giving of every tenth animal as well (Leviticus 27:32).

Is tithing required for New Testament believers? That’s a loaded question and it’s not as clear to some as it is to me.

I recommended digging through the tithing scriptures like a Berean. Here’s an article that I wrote with 40+ tithing bible verses for your consideration. If you’re interested in a deeper dive into tithing click here for An Ultimate Guide To Tithing.

Super Christians, Tithe?

There is nothing spectacular or specious about giving ten percent to your church. However, the idea that giving 10% is required to keep a curse at bay is diabolical. Scripture does not support that errant teaching.

Vanco reports that about 5% of church attendees practice tithing. The report has a pearl-clutching tone to it.

Is it wrong to give less than ten percent of one’s income to one’s church? That depends on your situation. Is giving ten percent, or more, to your church spectacular? Again, that depends on one’s specific financial situation.

Tithing, however, is impossible for the American Christian.

Levi and Aaron

Tithing was exclusive to the Israelites. The entire system was built around the Temple, the tribe of Levi, and the Aaronic priesthood.

Titus sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple in AD 70. Tithing became impossible without a temple, the Tribe of Levi, and the Aaronic priesthood

Moreover, the tithe was food (Deuteronomy 14:22-29). When the trip was too far to carry the tithe (food) it was exchanged for money and then converted back into food.

Pastors conveniently took several literal verses (Malachi 3:10-12, for example) and taught them figuratively.

Fake Financial News

The ten percent amount is a false charity floor and ceiling. Even those who believe that giving is now under grace reference the ten percent starting point. There was never a 10% financial contribution starting point.

Financial giving was never set at 10%.

The Old Testament act of tithing was reserved for farmers and shepherds. The tithe of the land (grain, etc.) was not 10%.

It was much, much more.

The Tithe Was Way More Than 10%

There were at least three tithes. The Levitical tithe (10% of seed-producing crops) and the Festival Tithe (10% of seed-producing crops) and the Poor Tithe (10% of seed-producing crops given every 3 years). Farmers generally had an annual tithe equivalent of 23.33%.

Perhaps you feel impressed to give ten percent. If so, then do it!

Maybe you’d like to give more but are working through money messes and financial frustration. Don’t give up!

The tithe, as admirable as it sounds, is simply not a Biblical way to fund churches. It’s a man-made idea that is promoted out of fear and ignorance.

I will go one step further: Neither Jesus, Peter, nor Paul tithed. Carpenters, fishermen, and tentmakers cannot tithe.

Neither can you. It’s impossible.

Total Financial Surrender

2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.

Jesus not only traded Heaven for Earth but practiced revolutionary generosity while on Earth. He set the generosity pace for us to follow.

Is a Kajillion More Than A Gazillion?

Paul was not telling the Corinthians that Jesus wanted them to be gazillionaires. No, he was provoking and encouraging them to follow the example of Jesus. He was basically asking this question:

Will you put yourself at a financial disadvantage for others? Or are you going to prove to everyone how blessed you are by the clothes you wear, the car you drive, and the house where you live?

I’m fully persuaded that most believers want to practice revolutionary generosity just like Jesus. There are a few hindrances, however.

The first is that most people are in tough financial situations.

One part of the Church teaches that tithing and “sowing seed” is all that is needed. Money will mysteriously fall from heaven and everything will be peaches & cream.

Blessed Or Broke?

Another part of the church is teaching asceticism. To distance themselves from the prosperity gospel** they’ve created a chasm that discourages any manner of savvy stewardship. Stewardship, in this camp, is solely based on giving offerings but nothing else.

Christians then find solace in secular methods and must deal with the tension between the two kingdoms. Confusion, guilt, and shame abound.

**The property gospel has some major issues. Here’s an article that I wrote about the errors of the prosperity gospel.

Practice Total Financial Surrender

Total financial surrender is relative. Revolutionary generosity looks different for the family that is up to their eyeballs in consumer debt compared to the family that has navigated that financial minefield.

Our goal should be total financial surrender. Begin playing the long game. Savvy stewardship requires wisdom, discipline, and sacrifice. Most importantly it requires patience.

Patience is so important that I wrote an entire article about it. To find out more about Financial Freedom and patience click here.

Savvy stewardship is much more than dropping money in a bucket on Sunday.

We don’t tip in the church on Sundays. It’s perfectly fine to give ten percent but there is a better way.

Go to God and tell Him that you want to practice total financial surrender.

He will not smother you in guilt or shame. Neither will we.

Let us know how we can serve you!