Opening the tithing can

This was my first response to a LinkedIn discussion thread about whether one should tithe on their pre-tax income, or after-tax. Well… didn’t that unleash a flood of comments? Here’s my first response. My reconsidered reply is in the post below.

Tithing, a great discussion catalyst! And divisive.

Even when I do seminars dealing with Christians and money, I avoid the topic because tithing is a ditch in most people’s thinking, i.e. “Tell me if you agree with me, then I’ll know whether to listen to you.”

I believe if people are negotiating pre- or post-tax, or tithing at all, then they’re still giving as a form of tax. Or insurance. Or investment.

Jesus was hardest on those who were most conscientious about tithing and said our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees.

And you can’t understand the widow’s mite passage’s message about giving unless you back up and take a run at it from the previous chapter for context, i.e. Pharisees devouring said widows’ houses.

Lee [a previous commenter in the thread] rightly points out that the Malachi text (before and after the “curse” reference) was directed at the temple management. Financial finagling is not a new thing, and God was about to open the books. His way.

We all carry a load of mixed messages and unhelpful filters in our understanding of money and finances, beginning with our tendency to talk about “finances” because it’s a way of avoiding “money”. That’s part of the reason I wrote a book on how to get Christians healthy about money itself, and do weekend seminars to kick start the process.

“I am rich in _____!”

Pre-tax, post-tax, pre-trib, post-trib, blah, blah, blah

I not-so-innocently wandered into an online discussion (on LinkedIn, of all places) about whether to tithe on pre-tax income or post-tax income. I hope the instigator had a smile on his face when he pulled that pin.

Of course, it led to a flurry (or rather, extended snow squalls) of opinions, pronouncements and pet theologies. And yes, I succumbed.

So here was my second take on the matter.

I think the most encouraging thing [in this discussion thread] is that so many people are taking an interest in the topic. That the point is we’re finding our way into becoming giving, generous people. Not having the right answer.

And disagreeing on the basis of thinking you have a superior spin on OT/NT theology only pleases one’s self. Better to ask, “Am I getting better at this?” than “Who’s right?”

Instead, what if you were to celebrate where someone is at? Applaud what’s good, rather than fault them over your own preferences?

This is what the Father is after: a people who want to know him and grow into being more and more like him. So we learn to give, and grow into his generous nature. If that means learning to tithe on net, then “Yay! Go for it.” If it means bumping that out to tithing on gross, “Yay! God for it!” If it means exceeding the tithe, then “Yay! Go for it!” If you’re unsure about pre-/post-tax, just take the step you can. For now. And trust that he’ll likely grow you into greater generosity. Not demand it.

The tithe was God’s offer of a hand up, an encouragement to learn how to share, for people who had just been busted out of slavery. I’m not sure that constant reference to the old covenant is helpful, except to learn from God’s intentions to boost us out of our natural inertia.

Seems to me the Law was a utopian plan that was a blueprint for celebration, not animal cruelty; unloading, not burdening; approach, not partition; invitation, not appeasement. He blazed a path into his presence. His leading us through repentance is his kindness to us. Not his demand for appeasing behavior.

We have to erase this image of God as The Great Oz. Including in our giving.

The tabernacle/law was how God illustrated a way for fearful people to get comfortable with his being right in their midst. He knew they’d have to get used to him being around. So he gave them a process, a drama, an escalating series of pleasing experiences leading to himself. He offered not a course of hoops and hurdles, but a sure-fire way to gain access to his presence. In that context, the tithes and offerings and festivals were supposed to be about fun and security and provision and joy associated with his name. Not a tax system, blessings investment scheme, or protection money.

Which is why Jesus wasn’t interested in abolishing the Law, but delivering all its promises.

So rather than playing one-upmanship with each other’s attempts to come to grips with the Hebrew/Israelite/Jewish experience, can we agree that giving is increasingly good, and that our experience of our Father’s generosity has room to grow?

“I am rich in _____!”