There are some who wholeheartedly believe in the principle of tithing. The denomination to which I belong suppports the concept and uses it as one of the practices that informs church life. My own position on tithing based on that small matter of reading scripture and noting what the whole counsel says leads me to think that at the very least it is not an essential prescription of the New Testament church. I don’t stop others from tithing. I don’t negate the testimonies of those who have benefited from it. I am just convinced that it is not something for the New Testament Church.
This however is not a blog against tithing. This is a blog about something even more sinister in the walk we have with Christ.
A problem I have with an approach to tithing is that it suggests that we give percentage of our income to God. Once that percentage is offered we have done our fiancial duty to God. For some once that is given, then we can afford to ask God for some money back and because we’ve coughed up the percentage requirement we will surely receive. In actuality life in Christ is not about being responsible for giving God a percentage of anything. This side of Calvary there is no longer a need for token symbolic offerings to God. Indeed if the old tithing was for priests than as the Royal Priesthood every believer would in essence be paying Himself. No, the life in Christ deal means that everything is His – all of our income is at His disposal to use in ways that bring Him honour and glory. Whether that’s paying taxes, buying groceries, giving to the poor, supporting charitable causes or purchasing resources, every penny we spend or save is an act of our priority to God.
Yet it can come across so clearly that in giving that percentage that the rest belongs to me. That doesn’t only affect financial resources. Whether it’s attending church services on a Saturday or Sunday (or whenever), there appears to be a tithing approach to serving/worshipping God. This works on the basis that once I’ve done the pre-requisite time for God by turning up for the service, I’ve done my bit for God – the rest of the time belongs to me. That can work obviously in the case of nominal Christians, worst still it can happen with well-meaning Christians who do not join the dots of Christ’s call of discipleship and every day living.
I experience the challenge often. I was conversing with a friend about recently and we came to the conclusion that it’s almost as though we are tithing holiness. We say to God, this portion of my life I’ll be holy and pure, I’ll do the consecrating bit and all the prper postures and gestures and God and the audience will know that I’ve done my bit for God. Yet when it comes to ‘me-time’, when I’m at work, disagreements with my wife or whenever then I’ll ask God to leave the room while I carry on my business. I’ve already given my tithe of holiness in the functions, gestures, rituals etc. I’ve done the praying, fasting, bible reading and all that so God can cut me some slack and let me tell my wife what for, or alllow me to be a bit loose with the conversation I’ll have with my colleagues at work. I’ve done my bit, surely He can understand that I need my space to breathe.
The same mentality that can inform tithing financially can blight our whole approach to God. Jesus’ ministry and His call was never to give Him a part of us. God’s concept of worship was never meant to be piecemeal. The work of the Holy Spirit is not just to affect us for a season in a heightened state of ecstasy whilst whooping at what the preacher is saying. God doesn’t want part of my time anymore than He wants part of my finances. He requires all of it and is reasonable in making such a request.
As a result when I’m watching television, when I’m online, when I’m encouraging my daughters, when I’m conversing with colleagues, when I have private time I am expected to be using that as time for God. I am meant to be holy and pure. It is a life set apart for the use of the Master. To help with that requires a conscious awareness of God at all time informing all things as He leads the way in everything. that level of consciousness brings to the fore the call of discipleship inherently based on the death of self. After all it is the self that has made all the demands that render the call of holiness a partial matter. It is the self that reckons that it is reasonable to just give God some and save the rest for yourself. So the self must die that Christ might reign over all life.
That life doesn’t consider then how much is given to God. That’s not an issue because a life sold out to God sees all of life belonging to God and so it is a matter of how to disperse of God’s resources in a manner that God requires so as to maximise the opportunity to give God glory. That’s no tithing matter.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
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