More thoughts on tithing

Most of my life I have been taught that if a Christian is not tithing in the prescribed way (10% of gross income, directly to the church, with "joy", and appropriate offerings), then he is a candidate for "God is going to get that money in one way or another."  In other words, the non-tither is going to have emergency home repairs, car repairs, sick children until the tithe has been properly paid, with interest.

If that is true, then the logical corollary is that the Christian who is tithing in the above manner should be free from these afflictions.  (But we scornfully call people who preach the logical conclusion "wealth and prosperity preachers" or "name it and claim it.")

Instead, we find that that reality brings affliction upon tithers and non-tithers alike.  So, when the non-tither is suffering affliction, God is getting His due; when the tither is suffering said affliction, God is testing his faith and will certainly provide for those needs.

Though, I have also heard that if you, a faithful tither, are suffering greatly, your life has got sin in it somewhere.  


So, that we do not preach that curse comes to non-thithers and blessing to tithers is a bit of disconnect.  That is the logical corollary.  (Corollary is a great mathematical word, isn't it?  Dictionary.com gives three definitions:

1.

Mathematics . a proposition that is incidentally proved in proving another proposition.

2.

an immediate consequence or easily drawn conclusion.

3.

a natural consequence or result.)

 

God never asked us to chuck logic.  If you want to see logic, read Romans.  

 

I can no longer do this "tithing" thing the way it has been prescribed.  I think God has a better way intended.  You can put here your tithing stories; I've heard millions.  I believe that the good things that come from the "tithing" are actually the blessings of putting God foremost in your thoughts.  Isn't that what the first commandment is all about?  

Do we think that

Isaiah 64:6

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthyrags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away 

 

stops with salvation?  Nothing we do in our own power and wisdom merits God's favor. Not before salvation, not after.

 

Ephesians 1:6 tells us that our only reason for being acceptable at all is our position in Christ.   Why does that change just because we are no longer children of hell?  We begin the race in God's power and wisdom and finish in our own?

 

Does all this mean I'm no longer tithing? No.  It means I am no longer going to allow myself to be bound by tradition (and the fear it has always been associated with) in the area.