Posted on 04/09/2011 9:02:51 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
A majority of evangelical leaders believe that the Bible does not require Christians to tithe, according to a survey released by the National Association of Evangelicals on Wednesday.
Fifty-eight percent of respondents (members of the NAE board of directors) said they do not think giving 10 percent of one's income to the church is mandated by the Bible, while 42 percent do.
Likely the wording of the survey explains why most of the respondents said offering tithe, a strong tradition among evangelical churches, is not a duty of believers.
Dr. John Walton, professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill., said he was not surprised by the survey finding after he looked at the wording of the question. He said the word "required" is the operative term.
"People who might have felt very strongly about tithing still would have said, 'Well no, but I'm not sure I would call it required,'" Walton explained to The Christian Post. "Back to the old [argument], are we under law or under grace."
Many of the NAE leaders noted in their response that although tithing is an Old Testament legal model, New Testament Christians should give out of generosity. The overwhelming majority, 95 percent, of respondents said they give at least 10 percent.
Order Online: Tithing: Test Me in This
"Anything less seems like an ungenerous response to God," wrote David Neff, editor-in-chief of Christianity Today, in his response.
Dr. Kurt Fredrickson, director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., said the language he is increasingly hearing among pastors is whole life stewardship.
"It is about how do we give our whole selves to God, which includes money of course, but also our time and gifts," said Frederickson, who was a pastor for 24 years. "I like David Neff's comment ... there is certainly the sense that the way we spend our money says an awful lot about who we are as a person."
The Fuller professor pointed to John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, who gave away more of his income as he earned more and kept his living standard the same. He ended up giving away about 90 percent of his money and living on 10 percent.
Instead of thinking about strict obligation, Old Testament professor Walton also called on Christians to think about tithe in different terms.
"A stewardship worldview would include a sense of gratitude toward God as the source of our goods. If we are trying to express our gratitude toward God, I don't think our words are enough," said Walton.
Still, the 10 percent standard in the Old Testament can serve as a "benchmark," he added.
"My gratitude to God is unlimited so does that mean I need to give everything?" he posed. "What would be an appropriate expression of gratitude? And that is where the Old Testament information comes in. That God considered an appropriate expression to be a tithe."
He added, "Sort of like the benchmark for tips in a restaurant. It sets what the expectations are."
In contrast to nearly all the NAE leaders who said they tithed at least 10 percent, Empty Tomb, Inc., reported that evangelicals give churches only about four percent of their income. Among all Christians, the percentage is even lower – only 2.43 percent.
Douglas LeBlanc, author of Tithing: Test Me in This, commented, "What is maddening to me is if there were a more explicit command to tithe, I think there would still be folks who would say, 'We are not in bondage to the law after all.'
"American Christians in particular, I think, will never fail to find a way out of tithing if they are not interested."
NAE President Leith Anderson commented at the end of the survey that he hopes to see more "generous, proportionate, cheerful and sacrificial giving among American evangelicals" in the years to come as churches increasingly offer financial courses and teach on stewardship.
The NAE conducts a monthly Evangelical Leaders Survey among its board of directors, which include the CEOs of denominations, missions organizations, universities, publishers and churches.
Spot on.
Now there are some preachers on tv with a suit and a tie and a vest
they want you to send your money to the lord but they give you their address
Cause all of your donations are completely tax free
God bless you all but most of all send your money
Hank Williams Jr. American Dream
The Tithe IS a good guideline but it is not required of the NT believer.
A Christian should seek God to determine how much they should give....
It is interesting that the preachers who preach that the Tithe is required and quote Malachi’ NEVER mention the sabbatical years when the Jews
WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO TITHE AT ALL!!!!
The church building mentioned above was NOT the Christians... it was the RCC... sadly, they are not even a close to following the teachings of Christianity. All they have is a little Jesus Jargon.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.”
~Matthew 23:23-24~
Does God need our money? Of course not! If we give to God we ought to give out of more than a misguided sense of legalism. Give to please God. Give to take care of your family, your neighbors and the poor. If you feel led to give, give by all means! We have more resources available to us than just what we keep in our bank accounts. Whatever became of giving of your time to God.
Being a Christian is more than showing up on Sunday for a couple of hours, and it’s more than throwing a few bucks in a plate. Christianity is what you do with your life! A Christian - or little Christ - ought to live in such a way that introduces others to Christ on a daily basis. If that means being financially faithful to God, then do that, but what I find to be likely is that more is required of us than writing a check to the counting committee on Sundays after payday.
This isn’t meaning to step on the toes of faithful tithers, but as noble and appreciated as tithes are, we need to watch out for those who come to church, get saved, and there only change is that now they tithe. Christ changes people from the inside out, and it may be that he changes how we behave with our currency, but if that’s the only evidence of faith, I think we would have reason to be concerned for them.
Our family started tithing when my wife first started getting heavily involved with the church and I protested. However, it has proven to be a blessing for us as we have received many blessings for it. Now I insist upon it.
I’m glad to hear that. I liked that episode and A Cry in the Dark is one of my favorite movies.
Yes, and in turn the govt gives tax-free status to the church.
Lots of preachers will tell you to give 10% of the gross. Yet to me it should be 10% of the net PLUS 10% of any tax refund you get. I believe that’s what Jesus meant when He said “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s, and unto God that which is God’s.’
Every scripture you find “tithing” will be in the Old Testament. Think about it. You are free now.
Bingo!!!
I agree with that but “giving” and “tithing” are not the same thing. Giving is a free choice, tithing is an Old Testament command.
I would not go to a church that preaches “tithing”. They are either greedy or they don’t understand “grace” or new testament scripture.
the answer is no.
I give my time. I figure I give around 8 hours a week. That would be the equivalent of close to 20 percent of the hours that I work.
I don’t make very much so the time I can give them is more valuable than a percentage of my pay.
Yes, as the state waxes, the church wanes.
marker
Giving is giving and the Christian thing to do. Besides, it not only helps others but makes one feel good inside too. I believe the happiest moments in my life was not on receiving something from someone but when I helped a needy or hurting person.
ping
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