“You Sent Contributions Repeatedly…” – February 5, 2012

Jesus taught and talked about generosity with money, wealth, and riches more than any other subject. He spoke on this topic more than the gospels mention his prayers. Paul did not focus on money as much as Jesus, but the Apostle was not quiet on the matter either. In one instance while writing the first letter to the Corinthian Church, he instructed these recalcitrant Christians:

            Now concerning the collection… : Do what I told the Galatian churches
to do.   On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a
sum of money in keeping with one’s income… .
                                                                        -- I Corinthians 16:1-2

Paul’s words are instructive in three ways.

He advocates disciplined giving, when he says we are to do this weekly.
Paul is comprehensive; every one can give something. Perhaps, you remember the theme sentence of the 2005 commitments for building construction and renovations: “Not equal gifts, but equal sacrifice”. This guiding principle illustrates the point.
He calls for proportional giving. The King James translation locates the emphasis clearly with a call to give according to one’s prosperity. In short, everyone give something, and everyone give a percentage of one’s income.

Many parishioners have asked me what the percentage should be, and my answer is right out of the Bible. Give ten percent. The wording throughout the Bible is unwavering on this point. If I said give whatever amount you choose, or if I told you to pledge $1,000, or if my words to you guided you to base your offering on a percentage of the total funding of the congregation’s ministry, I would be wrong. It is pretty simple math. The ten percent amount is easy to calculate. However, it does take personal and family discipline.

Cheri and I have given 10% or more to First United Methodist Church every year of my service as your Senior Pastor. But, 35 years ago…that was not the case. 1978 is the year we had progressed to the Biblical principle of tithing. I am not aware of anyone who started giving one-tenth of one’s income right out of the gate. I know Cheri and I did not. Cheri and I started giving weekly when we were first married. Year after year, we increased the percentage by 1 point, and some years even half a point. In 1978, we made the leap from 5% of our total income to 10%. The process Cheri and I followed is typical for families and persons who tithe.

Oftentimes I am asked, “What is a tithe?”. The Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament are again exceptionally consistent in their definition of a tithe. The “tithe” is one-tenth of one’s income. The Bible has no substitute wording on this point. A tithe is not whatever amount I choose it to be. A tithe is not 10% of my bank account after all other expenses are paid. A tithe is not random money placed in the offering plate.

Jesus’ harshest words related to money and the use of money. The next time you read the entire four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) make a list of every reference including money, mammon, riches, talents, gold, wealth, denarii (or the singular “denarius”), coins and other synonyms for currency. Here are a couple of references for contemplation.

First, from Matthew 22:21, after the Pharisees showed Jesus the coin used to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor, the Lord said, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God”. This verse has been frequently mis-applied. If you and I become Hebrews and listen to Jesus’ words, we know the Lord God is our emperor, not Caesar. God created everything; Caesar only ruled a mass of land. Our lives, our souls, our devotion, our possessions, everything… are not really our own, but belong to God. Now, we can do the math. What does the oppressive Roman ruler get from us and what does God get from us? For us to fully grasp the Hebrew perspective, read Malachi 3 and especially verses 7-10.

A second lesson is from Luke 11:42. This is Jesus speaking a highly prophetic warning to religious folk (that includes you and me). “How terrible for you Pharisees! You give a tenth of your mint, rue, and garden herbs of all kinds, while neglecting justice and love for God. These you ought to have done without neglecting the others.” Mint, dill, cumin and other herbs were currency. The Hebrews brought these to the temple as their offering. Jesus voices the basic understanding of tithing. In his mind, tithing is a given. Here he chastises the believing people for not going further than the tithe. This is a case in which Jesus uses money as the first illustration; then, he requires more than money. He calls for something else: to live and work for justice in humanity and to love God. In Jesus’ time, the believing people gave the money, but did not go further. In our day, it is the opposite; we tend to skip the tithe part and think all we have to do is love God. Jesus’ own idea is not either tithing or love for God; rather, both the money part and the loving God part combine to illustrate our devotion. This is a tough lesson, but Jesus had pretty much become fed up with wimpy disciples.

One of the frequent statements made about pledging to the church’s General Fund is, “I wish I could give more.” Don’t be discouraged. The time-tested way to increase one’s giving is to “take a step toward tithing” each year. If the annual gift total you are currently making is at 3% of your income, then step up to 4% this year. If you need, increase it by one-half percent some years. (Remember Paul’s words using two translations, “according to your income” or “as you have prospered”.) Some years, you can step up by more than 1% a year. Eventually, you will be tithing.

I have yet to hear a tither want to do less. I have never heard a tither complain to say, “…all the church wants is your money”. And, I have not found a tither who wished he/she could have a refund. By taking a step toward tithing, you need not feel guilty about the offering. Like all other aspects of Christian faith and life, this is a journey. With the commitment to step up 1% or 2%, or 0.5% or more per year, you are on track to living Biblically with your financial stewardship. Just by making the pledge to step up a percentage each year and to start walking down this road, you can feel better about your faith and your life with Christ.

Grace and peace,

Rev. Charles Murry