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Book Review: “Tithing” by Douglas Leblanc

January 3, 2011 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

In Tithing, Douglas Leblanc provides much more than a narrow discussion on a traditional issue. He doesn’t repeat the same worn out arguments, the same boringly technical way.

Instead, and probably because he admits to being “no theologian or exegetical writer,” Douglas has found an intriguing way to cut to the real heart of the issue. He shares the experiences of eleven different couples and one lone Monsignor, all of whom practice tithing for a very similar reason: selflessness.

Each example demonstrates an intentionally cultivated concern for the needs of others.

And the people he features will surprise you. They come from a broad range of very diverse backgrounds, giving the impression that tithing is not a denominational distinction:

Conservative Episcopalian
Liberal Episcopalian
Brethren
Mennonite
Methodist
Bible Church movement
Church of God
Adventist (with Jewish upbringing and experience with Armstrong’s Worldwide Church of God and Salvation Army)
Jewish
Catholic

Not only does he retain the old wine, he gives it a new skin and shows that the taste for it is thriving in many unexpected places.

What the book lacks in theology it makes up for in philosophical substance. The gems of wisdom are clear and poignant. [Read more…] about Book Review: “Tithing” by Douglas Leblanc

Must Tithes Be Given Only To Church?

September 14, 2010 by EnnisP 56 Comments

Good Question
Deserves Thoughtful Answer

Recently on Yahoo Answers a person (we’ll call him Jerry) submitted a question about tithing:

“Does money I tithe have to be given to the church?”

The reason for the question had nothing to do with selfishness, materialism or bad financial management. His question was motivated by generosity.

The church Jerry attends was preparing to send kids to camp and there were a couple of kids who couldn’t afford to go. Diverting Jerry’s tithe to this need for three months would cover the expense and he wondered if that was legit. Would that still qualify as “tithing?”

He also made it clear that he wasn’t questioning the rationale behind tithing (devoting ten percent of your income to God). In fact, he specified that only people who believed in tithing should respond and he further qualified by requesting only “respectful” answers. I almost laughed at the request. Having been scorched a few times by anti-tithers I wanted to put on a flack jacket before reading some of the responses. He had obviously faced a few also.

And sure enough one anti-tithing respondent spewed the venom we have come to expect: calling names, restating old arguments and generally abusing those who disagree. I wont’ waste time responding.

The truth is, this is a good question. It speaks to one particular issue about tithing, “where are tithes to be offered” and it deserves a thoughtful answer.

To be clear the question here is not, should I give tithes to my church but rather must I give all my tithes only to my church. That is an important clarification. Even anti-tithing folks give money to the church they attend.

Some tithers, however, do argue that every cent of the tithe belongs to the church and they usually refer to this practice as “storehouse tithing.” The argument is based mostly on one passage, Malachi 3:10 which literally says…

“Bring all the tithe into the storehouse…”

Storehouse Tithing

Tithers equate the storehouse in the Old Testament, the Temple, with the church in the New Testament. Anti-tithers debate this, suggesting that tithing was rescinded in the New Testament.

Both ideas can be debated. [Read more…] about Must Tithes Be Given Only To Church?

Corruption Countermands Tithing?

June 27, 2010 by EnnisP 2 Comments

Report Corruption
Refusing To Tithe Won’t Help

There are several reasons people suggest tithing is outdated but the arguments are often more emotive than scholastic. Very diatribe-ish. As a tither I feel a bit bruised and lacerated – sometimes guilty – after reading some of the rants. If you’ve read the write-ups you know what I mean.

But, before you buy into “New Age” ideas about tithing you should consider one question: does the Bible endorse this type of giving? That is essentially the bottom line and there is a lot of Bible material to work through. The history of tithing goes all the way back to Abraham, “The Father of Faith.”

His experience gives us a very interesting perspective on tithing. You can read about it here and here.

Although anti-tithers make a lot of noise about this issue the arguments don’t vary that much from one to another and those who make the arguments don’t dialogue very well either. Their propositions are barbed with nasty names and accusations for anyone who disagrees. I usually answer their suggestions not for the sake of dialogue but to provide information for those that are sincerely seeking a way to include God in their finances. [Read more…] about Corruption Countermands Tithing?

The Grace of Giving

August 26, 2009 by EnnisP 1 Comment

The Most Appropriate Response
To Grace
Is Sacrifice

“Grace” is a popular topic. Christians and non-Christians alike love it. The hymn, Amazing Grace, is still one of the best-known songs around and is sung regularly in all kinds of settings, in and out of church, even in bars. Once the tune is struck, everyone sings along, some with tears but all with joy. Very few need to be reminded of the words and we all identify with the hope this song and the word it features brings.

But, like all words in the English language, it is subject to shifts in meaning. The word gets used in many different contexts and with each new setting comes a new connotation. It has now become the catchword for all Christian ideas. A “shibboleth” of sorts, identifying the user with a certain class, region, attitude, or era, and the real meaning is lost.

There are endless applications and nuances: grace period, amazing grace, effectual grace, social grace, falling from or into grace, resistible and irresistible grace, the grace of God, grace note, law and grace, grace spurned, and, of course, grace-giving.

Most of these phrases are not found in the Bible. Some have no immediate connection to the Bible. Some suggest ideas that are mostly imagined and some misuse the word completely.

“Grace” has also become the response to every question not easily answered. When an issue gets confusing, grace it. It won’t clear the confusion but it will settle the argument. Grace is now the accepted curtain behind which all rational questions are chucked.

Take, for example, the phrase “grace giving.” [Read more…] about The Grace of Giving

What is Grace Giving?

August 11, 2009 by EnnisP 12 Comments

“Grace” Is Not
The Synonym
For Mindless Enthusiasm

I began a series of posts on Tithing in July 2009 that immediately attracted a lot of negative attention.

Every comment came from people who reject tithing, believe it was eliminated at the cross and feel quite free to abuse anyone who thinks otherwise.

They refer to those who teach tithing variously as false prophets, liars and thieves.
Those who practice tithing, they say, are duped.
Anyone who doesn’t see their point immediately or questions them with rational arguments are accused of being gripped with a cultic mindset.

In other words, anyone who disagrees is either a false prophet, a dupe or psychologically damaged. That makes it easy for them. Tithers need help not answers.

Well, ever the curious antagonist, I engaged the discussion looking for two specific bits of information.

Firstly, I wanted to know if these detractors could actually prove that tithing can be understood differently to the historical traditional sense. Was it really never what we thought it was? Did Abraham and Jacob really not tithe in the traditionally understood manner? Was their tithing not the same as that incorporated in the law? Did Jesus’ sparsity of comments on tithing mean it was mysteriously and without notice eliminated?

I dedicated several posts to these very questions. The responses could be described as misdirecting, smoke screening and/or dismissive. You can peruse the comments on the various posts to see what I mean.