Still on tithing
Still thinking about tithing. I'm struggling with the concept of robbing God and the idea of God as a Father.
It's something along the lines of what Mac Swift said in the comments:
- If a church member is suffering financial hardship, why does the church still require tithing, and not use its fund to alleviate the person's burden somewhat until he or she gets back on her feet?
In a father-child scenario: say the child owes the father a debt. And the child goes to the father and says, "Father, I can't afford to pay you this month because I have these other commitments and unexpected expenses to settle" - and lays down those things in front of his father. Wouldn't the father say, "It's all right, my son, forget this month, you can pay me next month when you are able"?
But, God is not just our Father, He's also GOD ALMIGHTY, and not to be trifled with. He says right there in Malachi that if I don't tithe, I'll be robbing Him. Robbing Him! That's very serious, you know!
So I'm confused. Of course, I could tithe as a matter of faith - "test Me in this," He said, as Rich pointed out - but I'm not sure I have that much faith...
As for the question of whether tithing is still required of us - you know the arguments: we live under grace, not law - we're not required to follow those Old Testament laws anymore. Paul wrote about giving what one has purposed in one's heart to give, and giving it cheerfully. Sounds like the attitude is more important than the amount...
Prior to that, he urged them to give generously, saying, "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." So if anything, it sounds like MORE than 10 percent!
However, when it comes to Jesus, just about the only time He ever mentioned tithing was when He told the Pharisees that they should have practiced tithing whilst not neglecting justice, mercy and faithfulness. Is that an indirect endorsement?
I'm personally inclined to think that tithing is not a hard-and-fast rule but it is sort of like the minimum I should do. After all, I can't kid myself I'm giving generously like Paul describes, so I "purpose in my heart" to give the 10% and do it cheerfully.
I can't quite get out of the feeling that it's an obligation and a duty to God, but I also feel it is right because pastors need to survive and the tithe pays their salaries, providing them with food to eat. That was partly why the tithe was insituted (see Numbers 18). Jesus also said the worker deserves his wages, and that's fair.
Anyway, so here I am, believing I should tithe, wondering if it would be OK to miss the tithe this month (does that show lack of faith? Will I really be robbing God??) and unsure of what God thinks of it all...