Do I have to Tithe by Kelley Barton

Those of use raised in the Evangelical environment know all too well the concept of tithing. For many, it started as we were kids, having to set aside a portion of our allowance to tithe to our church, at the urging or requirement, of our parents. 

The Old Testament section of the Bible is where this practice is described. 10% was the standard for supporting the Priests and the Temple. The words of Jesus and his disciples, and their letters in the New Testament, encourage us to give cheerfully, to be generous and that it should be voluntary. Not required, not forced.

And yet….

My husband and I attended a church in the past where it was definitely forced, but in a sly and covert way. We were part of a team helping a refugee family from Syria settle in the US. It was a wonderful experience, until we were pulled aside and asked why we had not signed a paper that said we pledged to give 10% of our income to this church.

A lively conversation ensued. We stood our ground, that were not going to sign anything, and that our giving went to God’s work. Yes, that included this church, but it also included missionaries and organizations where we wanted to support their efforts. And we would not be held to a 10% standard, because that was an Old Testament guideline and not what Jesus taught – which was cheerful generosity.

As you can imagine, that did not go well. We were kicked off the team.

Some of you may have had a similar experience. Or at least felt guilty, or shame, if you were not “tithing” the way you were told you should.

I am so thankful for the teaching at City Church, the conversation about giving that explored so much more than what percentage. Bill & Brenna went deeper, asked questions for us to ponder.

Now that the Blessed Are The Question Askers series has wrapped up, I look back at how those questions were handled and am grateful. We were not given answers and told to adhere to them. Instead we were lead through conversations that didn’t end on Sunday, but that we can continue talking about. Discovering, exploring and contemplating the way Jesus wants us to navigate our life, our faith and our relationships.

So no, I don’t have to tithe. I will continue the journey I am on, alongside you, and see where it leads me.