Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: psburns@lims04.lerc.nasa.gov (MAUREEN BURNS) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Tithing Message-ID: Date: 4 Apr 91 05:52:05 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center Lines: 76 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article , murphy@mips.com (Mike Murphy) writes... >Here's a topic we haven't discussed in a while: tithing. > >A couple questions: >1) Do you think all Christians should tithe 10%, or is that an >Old Testament concept now superceded by Christ? >2) Some Christians use the Malachi 3:10 verse to say that >our full tithe should go to our "storehouse", the local church. >Do you think it is okay to split a tithe between your church >and other Christian organizations? >3) Do you think Christian businesses should tithe as individuals do? >What about churches and charities tithing part of their income? Funny you should raise this issue. I am currently reading Larry Burkett's book entitled *Business by the Book* which is an excellent treatment of the scriptural aspects of running a business. There is an entire chapter devoted to the subject of whether a Christian business should tithe. Mr. Burkett brought out some great points that I really never considered: 1. Tithing, as described in the Old Testament, really was never part of the Law. There never was any punishment for failure to tithe. Rather, tithing sprung from the necessity of supporting the Jewish folks who were the keepers of the Temple and the administrators of the faith. This burden of support was taken up by the faithful who realized that what they were blessed with was theirs only through the hand of God. Although there was no punishment for failure to tithe, God did say there were consequences. 2. As far as whether the idea changed during the New Testament times, consider this: In the NT, God was very explicit whenever He referred to an Old Testament teaching, and if the teaching was changed from the Old Testament, He was very explicit to explain the change. Such changes applied to the Sabbath, divorce, sacrifice, for example. Never did Jesus mention any change to the issue of tithing. Therefore, one can assume that tithing is just as applicable today as it was in the Old Testament times. 3. God loves a cheerful giver. I don't believe he wants what we give him grudgingly. If you're hesistant to give, don't give at all. Tithing isn't something we can use to push a button with God, and have him dump his blessings on us If we give out of an obligation or with resentment, I would venture to guess that God, who sees the motives of our hearts, will not honor that giving as he would if it were given with a pure motive and a joyful heart. 4. As far as 10%, "tithe" translates to "a tenth". Net or gross? God's word says to tithe from "first fruits" or, as I see it, from that which comes to you. I don't feel comfortable with my Holy and Mighty God standing in line behind the government who's collecting taxes, and behind my creditors who are collecting their interest (due to my poor $ management, I confess). I make a lot of money, and I truly consider it a priveledge to honor the Lord from my finances with my tithe. I love seeing where my money goes in the ministries at my church. I love knowing that in a small way, I am helping touch lives for Jesus Christ. I don't mean to say that everyone should think as I do. God worked mightily in my life to develop my attitude toward giving. I encourage everyone to let Him do the same in your own life. Maureen Burns [There are legal and ethical issues involved with businesses. Certainly for public corporations, a business has a fiduciary responsibility to its owners to concentrate on the purpose for which it was established, which is generally some sort of economic activity. They also have responsibilities that are somewhat less clearly defined to employees, customers, etc. In plain terms, this means that in most cases the primary duty of a business is to manufacture things, provide services, and make money. It would be unethical, and I am reasonably sure illegal, for managers of a company to divert its resources for religious purposes that they personally consider important. Once dividends from the business have been paid to its stockholders or owners, they are perfectly free to use them for whatever purposes they see fit. We will hope that this includes support of their church. I confess that I'm not sufficiently versed in law to know whether there are businesses to which this does not apply. There are certainly Christian bookstores and other enterprises that have advancing Christianity as part of their stated purpose. My gut feeling is that even in this case there might be problems. But in other cases, I am reasonably sure that the law (probably in the form of the S.E.C.) would look very dimly upon the concept of a company tithing. --clh]