Our subject is tithing.  This will be the third and final post on this subject and I feel confident I can answer the questions I closed with on my last post:  How much do I give?  Where do I give?  Are there any guidelines in the Bible for a specific amount now that were under the New Covenant?  Are there any guidelines in the Bible for where to give my money?  What's wrong with me NOT giving?

We'll start with how much and where do I give.  Under the new covenant in Jesus we are no longer told how much to give or commanded to give it to a specific place.  However, if we look at where money was given throughout the New Testament we find three places: the local congregation, missionaries (like Paul), and the poor.  I've already explained in the past two blogs on this subject that we are now to give "what weve decided in our hearts to give." (2 Corinthians 9:7) We are to do this rather than give 10% under compulsion as we were directed to do in the Old Testament.  So, the amount we give should be decided in prayer with God.  The place we give should now be decided in the same fashion!  Our prayer life becomes paramount to our ability to rightly give to and for the purposes of God. 

When deciding where to give however, our local congregation should be seen as a primary recipient of our giving because God has called each one of us to a specific local community of believers to fulfill His vision through that community.  Much of our time, talents, and moneys should be poured out for that vision.  We are also called to give money to missionaries and to the needy.  We should look carefully at how our local congregation is giving to missionaries and to the poor before giving to other Christian organizations simply because our local community may very well be giving and serving missionaries and the poor. 

Finally, we may feel that God is directing us to give to a needy family member or a specific missionary that is not supported by our local community of faith.  These acts of giving, if done as a result of prayerful appeal to God and direction from God, are acts of giving that are done in Christs name and adhere fully to the New Testament concept of giving.

So, for example, a Christ follower may pray diligently to God for direction about how much and where to give.  The person may then feel led to give $500 in a given month to his or her local congregation, sponsor three children through World Vision ($105/mo), pay his or her cousins electricity bill ($120/mo) and support a friend who is going into full time international mission work ($400/mo).  All of this money comes out of a $70,000 annual salary.  The amount of money this person is giving monthly is just over 19% of the annual salary.  Only 8.5% of the moneys given are given directly to the local congregation.  The point is that the amounts or the percentages are irrelevant!  This person has sought God in the process and has given "what he (or she) has decided in his (or her) heart to give."

As for the question, 'Is it okay NOT to give?'  Paul would say that it is not beneficial for any believer to not give.  Giving is at the very essence of the spiritual DNA of every believer whether giving time, prayer, talents, or possessions.  We are blessed, matured, and shaped to be more like Christ in every act of giving.  So, it IS okay NOT to give in the same way that it is okay for any Christian NOT to live an abundant life. 

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)

Todd Phillips

For those of you are reading Colossians with me:

Colossians 3:12-25

12 Therefore, as Gods chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

I received a tremendous number of comments both on the blog page itself and my message files on myspace about my last post: Three Signs of Spiritual Maturity Part 3 - How do you spend your money?  Of the many questions I received, most dealt with the topic of tithing.  So, I thought we would just dive right into the subject!

Understanding the biblical perspective on tithing is extremely important not only for your own peace of mind as a believer but also for your unchurched friends who ask, Why is the church always asking for money.  This question unfairly puts all churches in the same category but the heart of this question is important to answer - what does God want with my money?

The Eastons Bible dictionary explains the tithe this way:

Tithe - Literally means a tenth - - a tenth of the produce of the earth consecrated and set apart for special purposes. The dedication of a tenth to God was recognized as a duty before the time of Moses. Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek (Gen. 14:20; Heb. 7:6); and Jacob vowed unto the Lord and said, Of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

The first Mosaic Law (the law given to Moses and the Israelites in the Old Testament) on this subject is recorded in Leviticus 27:30-32:

30 All tithes from the land, whether the seed from the ground or the fruit from the tree, are the Lords; they are holy to the Lord. 31 If persons wish to redeem any of their tithes, they must add one-fifth to them. 32 All tithes of herd and flock, every tenth one that passes under the shepherds staff, shall be holy to the Lord.

The first Levitical Law (the Levites were a tribe of priests in the Old Testament) on the subject is recorded in Deuteronomy 14:22-29:

22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. 23 Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. 24 But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away), 25 then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. 26 Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice. 27 And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own. 28 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that years produce and store it in your towns, 29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

Some scholars say that these texts show three tithes - ten percent to the temple, ten percent to the Levite priests, and ten percent every third year to the poor - 23 1/3 percent tithe!  You might be thinking, "God demands that I give 23 1/3 percent of my paycheck to him?  I like the ten percent tithe i learned in Sunday School a lot better!"

Its clear that there was a mandate by God to give at least a tenth of our stuff to Him.  Further, God specified where this money should go the Temple, the priests, and the downtrodden in our communities.  But, what does all of this have to do with us today?  Well find outin my next post!

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)

Todd Phillips

For those of you reading Colossians with me:

Colossians 2:16-23

16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19 He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. 20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!? 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.