Why I Hate Tithing

Tithing is a practice in Christianity whereby one gives 10% of what one earns (nothing is said about whether this figure is gross or net) to the church or charity. Some churches even make this a requirement for membership. However, there is nothing biblical about this practice (Malachi 3:10 is often misquoted to induce people into giving) and in fact leads (or rather misleads) people to think “10% for God, 90% for me to do with as I see fit.” Unfortunately, due to selfish human nature, that usually translates as 90% for “my own consumption.”

Why stop at 10%? Why not 60%? Or 90%? Of course, I’m being rheteorical. But, what I really mean is that 100% is God’s and we should steward our resources with this thought always in mind. To borrow a phrase from popular Christianity, “What would Jesus do?” Yes, just what would He do with these resources?

Tithing becomes a minimum bar that Christians use to justify their consumptive lifestyles: spending on frivolous items like expensive cars (including SUV's - really, how many people really drive off-road in the city??), Starbucks lattes, designer clothing, and other useless trinkets/entertainment that I will not even bother to list here.

Click here for Paul's study on tithing. For further food for thought, a good book to start with is “Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger” by Ron Sider. I’m currently reading “Living High and Letting Die” by Peter Unger.

Is This All About the Price of Oil?

Finally got around to viewing Fahrenheit 9/11 last night. Deeply disturbing and only confirmed my suspicions about the propaganda fabricated for the Iraqi war. Disturbing was film footage of the Iraqi people who were enjoying life before the invasion and they, themselves, asking not to have war waged upon them. Also, the footage of Iraqi children suffering from starvation due to the economic sanctions imposed on Iraq since the last Gulf War.

Especially repugnant were scenes of a conference on how American corporations who could opportunistically position themselves to profit from the war. Another scene showed Bush speaking at an obviously expensive dinner where he addressed his audience with something to the effect of, "Here I am with the haves and the have-mores, the elite, my base." It showed obviously where his loyalties lie and it is not with "everyday Americans."

Michael Moore wasn't "over the top" as some critics say. If he was, he was only trying to balance the propaganda fed to the American people in waging an unjust war. As the mother who lost her eldest son in the war said, the film's purpose was to stimulate people to dialogue about the war.

Afraid that doesn't seem to be the American way anymore. (I'm not anti-American - my siblings are now Americans and I have good friends who are also).

(We were in San Diego when the war broke out (a cheapie trip from Air Miles points). The only news we could receive was CNN and FOX news and you know how "unbiased" they are. The atmosphere as we departed from the airport was frightening "("Orange Alert" - the second highest terrorist alert alarm level). Realistically, how much of a threat could the Iraqi's impose on San Diego at that time as they were being invaded by the USA?)

Is this all about the price of oil?

The Incomprehensibility of Life

Our friend's brother remains in the ICU in a coma since 3.5 months ago. The physicians are stumped and have no idea as what is going on. This is a Christian man with a wife and two young children. Do they "deserve" this? Why is this happening to them?

These were the same questions running through my mind when Paul was diagnosed with aplastic anemia. Why is this happening to us and what is the sense of it all? Finally, I had to understand that I don't have to understand. I just have to live each day with the knowledge that God is sovereign and in control. I may not understand (in this lifetime, anyways) but this is not to say that I do not struggle with understanding because I should. But ultimately, I need to trust in Him who gives and takes away life. Not a passive stance, but one of great humility graced with acceptance and trust (I need lots of work in these areas). A child-like trust that knows He truly cares for me.

The Teacher sums it up well in Ecclesiastes 8:14-15, 17 (NIV):

There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: righteous men who get what the wicked deserve, and wicked men who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless. So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.

...No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it.

Is Tradition Bad?

Only if it traps you into a rigid way of thinking and dulls your willingness to change for the better. For example, despite enjoying Christmas traditions, I would willingly give them up if I was required to do so.

Jesus spoke about tradition with the Pharisees (Matt. 15: 1-20). "Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition." (v. 7)

The tradition of institutional churches is a much more difficult security blanket for most Christians to give up. But, think of how radical Christianity would be (and much closer to what Christ had commanded his disciples) if we gave up traditions like large church buildings that are only used one day/week, paid preachers (even Paul the apostle refused payment for his teaching and stayed financially independent of handouts by working as a tentmaker), and tithing (which I'll address later). Wow, wouldn't that be drastic and so Christ-like? Think of His example when He turned the tables in the temple (Matt. 21:12, 13)

So, is tradition bad? It can be and if it is, get rid of it!

Blessings Day

So, in our alternative lifestyle, we have decided not to "celebrate Christmas" (although we still have family gatherings around this time.) Instead, we have replaced it with a new “holiday” if you wish, called “Blessings Day”. Each January 1, we invite friends (mostly ones we haven't seen in a while) over for this low-key event. Together, we celebrate the many blessings God has given us in the past year and also rejoice in the friendships He has blessed us with. In our circle of friends, guests often bring over small gifts for the host/hostess. Instead of this, we ask them to bring food for donation to the local food bank.

Just an alternative to the “Crassness Season”.