Tithing

I have been bothered by the economy down turn and all the churches focusing on tithing. I just got finished reading Habakkuk  this whole book is about one man speaking to God on the behalf of Israel because they are about to be destroyed. Lets just say God does not change his mind and he is still going to destroy Israel and Judah. 

"Hab 3:17  Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, 

Hab 3:18  Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. 

Hab 3:19  The Lord GOD is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds' feet, And makes me walk on my high places. For the choir director, on my stringed instruments. "

Even after this Habakkuk puts his home in God. This is should be our position in hard times. No matter we should have hope in God.

On another note, tithing shouldn't be focused in every Church service which I have seen at most churches I have been to lately. Here is what one of my teachers said(I am going to keep his identity a secret because I didn't ask for permission)

"The Foursquare position is that tithing is 'God's financial plan for the Church.' This is argued on the basis of Deut. 14, Mal. 3, and Luke 11:42/Mt. 23:23.

Now that I've given you the 'party line,' I should tell you that I respectfully disagree with this position. I don't see tithing actually being renewed as a principle under the new covenant. Jesus' affirmation of tithing should be seen on the same level as his affirmation of offering sacrifices (Mt. 5:23-24). That is, if Jesus affirms sacrifices, but we don't see any reason for them to continue to today, I need much more than a passing affirmation of people tithing at the time to see it as being renewed under the new covenant. Further, where one would expect Paul to refer to tithing as a means of gathering a collection to provide for others (1 Cor 16; 2 Cor. 8-9) he doesn't. He talks about regular, sacrificial, and generous giving, but doesn't mention anything about setting aside a tithe. In light of this, therefore, I see that the NT principle seems to be bound up in being a regular, sacrificial, and generous giver. Ten percent seems like a good place to start, and I practice that, but I don't see it as a requirement. For some, giving sacrificially may mean less than 10% (for some 3 or 5% would be a sacrifice because of their income). For others giving sacrificially would mean giving more than 10%. 

Overall, the key thing is to give because it all belongs to God anyway. There's no magic formula associated with tithing (those that argue that you won't be blessed if you don't give the 10% have a very low view of God in my perspective - God 'sends his rain on the righteous and the wicked'). If you give 10% of your income great. If you do more than that great! If you can only sacrificially give less than that is great as well."

Stop worrying about you paychecks and you programs and start worrying about people.

The church and consumerism.

I have been thinking a lot about Israels call to be different, to be not the norm. While I was in Ezra and Nehemiah during a Jan Term(a 8hr a day, for five days intensive) at my school I heavily noticed this. Ezra and Nehemiah is all about the build of the temple which established Israel as a nation and Gods chosen people. In these book they struggle with a sin that threatens them into being sent into exile again. This sin is some of the men have taken on foreign wives.(Ezra 9:1-5) Ezra ask for forgiveness in an extensive prayer taken on his burden of his people on for himself.(Ezra 9:6-15) “His(Ezra) apparent despair provokes them to seek hope for Israel at any cost, and his abandonment to grief stirs them to impatience for some more positive response.”(Kidner 70) This brings the Israelites to make a drastic and I would say necessary decision to be different then the world around them. Israel decides to send away all the foreign wives and their children.(Ezra 10:3) This was by no means was the Law called for, but it was a necessary evil. They need to separate themselves from their sin and move into what God called them to.

So since we have been grafted into this(If you are a gentile)(Romans 11:17-24) I think we too have a call to take drastic measures to be different and set apart from our community. The reason foreign wives were such a problem in these passages in Ezra was because they were bringing in their pagan gods and heathen tradition.(Goldengay) Israel was becoming these other nations and not being set apart like they should be.

I believe Jesus as well gives a call that I think the church is missing out on. In the simple book of Mark he tells a story of a rich young ruler who ask a question. The question he is asking is “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”(Mark 10:17) Jesus responds in I would say a sarcastic way. He states that the young ruler knows the ten commandments and keeps them.(Mark 10:19) The ruler say “of course I do.”(Mark 10:20) Here comes Jesus with a stinger. A call to be different then everyone else. A call to change his whole life completely around. Jesus says "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." (Mark 10:21) This man went away sad. He had tons of property and possessions.(Mark 10:22) I think it is crazy here because it does not say this man had lots money but he had lots of possession.

Why as the American church are we striving to win people for Christ with the coolest possessions?(well thats how I view it in my eyes?) I have heard of many churches recently having to lay off pastors because they could not make budget in this recent economy. What if instead of this the churches sold their million dollar buildings or sold their 30,000 dollar sound boards? Do we really need these things to reach Christ? Are we really being different then the culture around us?

I would say no. I recently stepped foot on a church campus and I thought I was at Mall of America. Is this what God really wants? Are as a church supposed to be consumerist just like the rest of the world? Are we supposed to go into dept on new building that are supposed to reach a community? Is the call to give all your money to the poor a lost thing?

I would like to know everyone else thoughts.