Stranger In This Land

Thoughts on Tithing in the Church…

Dec 27, 2009 church planting, reflecting

A friend of mine, in his blog, proposed questions on the topic of tithe in his recent post that is looking at the apparent un-sever-able tie between the need of tithe and the costs of operating as a church.

I made a few comments on his blog, how the american church needs to learn to work with less. However, I have been chewing on this topic, all week. As someone who studies to someday Church Plant a “simple church” in “megaland” “Southern California”; I continued to ask my self questions on this topic this week and come to some of reasoning for me on how not only are American Churches needing to work with less, but they need to figure out how to do MORE (then we are now) with LESS (then we are getting and demanding, now).

Biblically the first time we see tithe demonstrated in the bible, is with the story of Abram in Genesis 14.

Genesis 14:18-20 (New International Version)
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Since then in some way or a matter, the history of Christianity has been tied to the Tithe (meaning 1/10). Though it hasn’t always looked the same, for example the Old Testament speaks of “a Year of Tithe” and other special Tithing Ways (Food, Sacrifices, Money, etc). It would seem in the Old Testament that Tithing was never, ever, about paying Church leaders or supporting operational costs.

One of the major uses of Tithing and holding a collection in Today’s era, is the reason for paying for the churches insurances, operating costs, coffee for church services and payrolls. Then we support Missionaries and other Ministries and outreaches.

My last Pastor Jerry Shannon spoke to me, often, about how he and his wife were always committed to increasing their tithe every year, even in time of recession and even in time of him serving as Pastor, he still tithed.

The question comes down for me is, does the Church Tithe? Should The Churches’ Tithe be greater then any person’s payroll. I would say Yes and Yes. I would personally believe that if your payroll, as in some megachurches, is greater then what the church is putting into missionaries and ministries (not including operating costs), then you need to reanalyze why we are doing church.

Early Brethren and Mennonite Pastors, were always Bi-Vocational when we first came to America. I thought that was kind of weird when I first came across that information in my readings awhile back, but not only does it stop us from becoming “prideful” and “rich of ministry” but it causes us to rest in the peace that our Pastor is in touch with real life and that the church has the majority of their money going to missions and ministry, rather then payroll. Now, I understand the new testament and it’s apologetic that the minister has the right to work and be paid for his work, and that we aren’t all called to be the self supporting work as a tent maker that Paul was committed to being and doing.

My thoughts are leaning that the church should do more, then it pays. It should also pay out more to ministry and missions then it pays it pastor. As a future Church planter, I think ask myself, what if things start out strong I become full time and then “boom” something happens that causes recession in the church, do I back down ministry first or me? Do I pick up a second time Job, even if it sacrifices time for my congregation?

I am still chewing through my thoughts, but share your thoughts on the institution of tithing (as the Baptists call it).

My goal now as a Church Planter is to always remain bi-vocational and to try to find a impossible balance of work, family and church ministry life; as idealist as that is, I believe it will be beneficial to helping others in the church to stand up and take important roles in each others lives, and should it come to the time I need to cut more then just my payroll in the church plant, who says Church has to meet and look the way church looks now? Churches are designed to be Missional and we have to ask, what is in our church now, what remains, what can be strengthened and how can we custom our service to look more like us with our budget?

Tags: Church, discussion on tithe, how should tithing look in a church plant, importance of tithing, reflections on church, should i tithe, thoughts on church, tithing