On Tithing

I thought I'd start this post with a bit of Halloween-related funny, brought to you by Eugene Cho, a pastor in SF whom I follow on Twitter:

Hmm, I wonder who raided her son's bulging, overweight sack of candy before leaving for work this morning... *whistles innocently*  ;-)

Seriously, though, where did this concept of "10%" even come about, in the first place? I'll admit that I have not read through the entire Bible from cover to cover, but I'd be willing to wager that it doesn't dictate an exact figure. We've been attending our church for 4.5 years, and while we give regularly to it, we do not subscribe to any notions of adhering strictly to a man-made percentage.

Now, what I do believe in, regardless of exact figures or rules about net vs. gross income, is in using the income you are blessed to receive, to help others in need. Isn't that the original purpose of tithing?

We have a friend/co-worker who has fairly liberal beliefs, and while most churches are too confining for someone like him, his actions are often more Christian than almost anyone else I know. He applies the true intent of tithing. He does not (necessarily) give to a particular church. He makes micro-loans on Kiva. He donates to clean water projects. His causes focus on the plight of people truly in need, mostly in other, poorer countries, and that's where he tithes. If that is not the spirit of Jesus's command to "love one another", I don't know what is.

I think too often we get caught up in the rules and regulations of religion, and lose sight of what's really, ultimately important: Love God and love one another. And I don't believe that you have to count out 10% of your income, to the penny, and give it all to your church, in order to express that love. Unless, of course, that's what you feel called to do. I believe that that sort of giving should be done in a true spirit of charity and love, and not out of obligation to follow some arbitrary, man-made rules.

Our own pastor summed it up best during a group class once. When the topic of tithing came up, one guy posed exactly the sort of situation my co-worker is already in. He has some favorite causes he would like to donate to. Should he give 10% to the church and then those causes on top of it? Or can those causes count as part of that 10%?

Pastor's reply? "That's between you and God."

Amen!