10%…another look

i have almost a love-hate affair with the ten percent.  looking back, without being taught the discipline, i don’t know if i ever would have developed the habit of giving that i have in my life right now.  and without the regular pattern of giving, i don’t know if i would have ever experienced the grace to truly trust god to not only provide for every need, but also to live with the freedom to let go of money.

i guess the “hate” part comes from the inference that it is still a requirement from god.  and worse yet, a bar that all believers are to somehow shoot for.  giving ten percent is a time-honored tradition of the church and a sound financial practice (just ask your tax guy).  i’m not arguing this point.  it’s just that the tithe, according to scripture, is a little different than the tradition that has been passed down.

the children of israel were required to tithe.  in fact, they were required to give multiple tithes…as much as 23% percent and even beyond.  it was similar to our system of taxation.  it was not a matter of the heart, it wasn’t a matter of choice.  it was demanded and there was a consequence if the demand was not met.  

when jesus arrived on the scene, the jewish requirements for tithing were still in place.  but jesus brought a redefining of jewish legal requirement:

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  Matthew 5:17

historically, the church has emphasized that jesus did not abolish the tithe.  my problem with this is how the church has gone about picking and choosing which of the laws we were still going to conveniently require and which of the laws we were going to let slide.  and if we’re going to require them, why aren’t we really requiring them?  ah, law…so much more to say.  i’ll save it for later.

let me make this clear.  if you believe the ultimate goal set before you is to give ten percent of your income to the local church, somebody has sold you a lemon!  if you think that god is somehow pleased when you let go of a percentage of your money, it’s time for a fresh perspective.  jesus did not come to abolish the law of tithing.  i think he came to explode it!

he came to give us all a brand new take on what it means to know that god is the creator and owner of everything, including every dime we think belongs to us…what it means to live underneath the his lordship…what it means to seek the kingdom of god first…what it means to put our money where we say our hearts are.

the real question is not what percentage i put in the offering plate, but what percentage stays in my bank account.

what do you think?

10% again

i suppose the primary reason i started giving ten percent to the general budget of my church family was out of legalism.  can’t say i’m real proud of that, but it’s probably the truth.  

i grew up in a church that always preached the “tithe” (more on that in a couple of days).  it was taught regularly and the inference was that god established it as a law in the old testament and jesus did nothing to abolish the old testament laws…so we should be expected to do at least as much as new testament disciples.  ten percent (the tithe) was the standard of excellence in discipleship!

hey.  it’s what i was taught and it was what i believed.  i come from an era that trusted authority and leadership in the church in a completely different way than we experience now.  i had a high respect for my parents and for the people who were in positions of influence…especially church influence…in my my life.  my parents modeled the giving of ten percent and taught me to do the same.  when i began to grow up, make money, get married, and live on my own, i followed their example.

now, honestly, i live such a completely different kind of life from my youth, it’s almost hard to remember.  my reasons for giving are much deeper, much stronger, much broader.  life is not as simple as it used to be.  i am not as simple as i used to be.  but frankly, the foundation is still there.  interesting…

it makes me think…not just about money, but about everything.  why is it so difficult to trust the judgment and direction of those older and wiser?  why is it so easy to dismiss the patterns and practices of our elders, when it comes to discipleship?  why do we trust our own impulses and logic when it comes to following jesus, instead of taking the baton from the previous leg of the relay and carefully pass it on to the future?

10%

somewhere back in the hard drive of my past, i learned that giving ten percent of my income in the offering plate each week was what i needed to do.  i’m glad i learned to do it.  i’m glad that wanda and i have always shared that same perspective.  

through the years, ten percent has never really been our goal.  it’s always been like a starting point.  a place where our giving begins and moves on from.  for the most part, ten percent has been what we have always given to the general budget for the ministry of our church family.  other giving has always been above and beyond that.

the ten percent starting point is never negotiated.  it is never questioned.  it’s never lowered.  it is never up for debate.  it just is.

do i think god requires it?  nope.  do i think we are under the same laws of the old testament?  no way.  do i think that jesus would want me to give ten percent?  i honestly don’t think he thinks about it.  does it make me better than others?  i wish.  is god pleased when i give it?  i suppose, but it doesn’t occur to me to think about it.  will i be punished if i don’t give it?  please…  

so why do i do it?  i think i’ll tell you over the next few days.  i hope you stay tuned.