The Backlash Against Tithing - Wall Street Journal
Just for those keeping up with the tithing series, I ran across this article, The Backlash Against Tithing, in the Wall Street Journal today (it was published on November 23, 2007). The article mentions John Hagee’s church, Cornerstone Church of San Antonio, Texas, and how the church requires its paid and volunteer leaders to tithe (is this faith?). Though Hagee has not been known as a “Word of Faith” preacher (he’s mostly known for his peculiar theology on Israel), he has been embraced by many Word of Faith preachers. Here is a quote from his director of pastoral ministries, Steve Sorensen, about tithing:
When you tithe, God makes promises to us, that he … is not going to let anything bad or destructive come about. For those who don’t tithe, the Lord is not obligated to do those things for you.
Of course, Sorensen is speaking about Malachi 3 for there is no New Testament text that says anything like this.
One interesting thing about the article is the number of preachers who justify tithing not in reference to scripture, but rather in reference to church expenditures. Coffee bars and big screen TVs seem rather poor justification for required tithing.
Concerning the last line of the article:
his “made alive” Jesus is scripturally dead-on.
Should this not be:
his “made alive” Jesus is scripturally alive-on.
Great exegesis, Peter!!
Bob,
Thanks for reading. We all make great strides when we leave our ready-made phrases and let the text speak, don’t we?
Consider - Matthew 23:23 - Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weighter matters of the law; justice, mercy and faith, these ye ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. - It would seem to me that Jesus clearly told them not to leave tithing undone. God loves a cheerful giver, one that gives because of the great love he or she has for the one they are giving to. I do not enjoy gifts that are given out of obligation or duty. But when love motivates a gift and that gift is an expression of sincere love, it becomes a real delight. My giving must flow out of a heart of love. I must be careful not to give because of duty or obligation but simply because of my great love for the Lord. I could never out give the Lord. But if my heart is right I might try to. Someone once said, “Do not throw the baby out with the bath water” - I must be careful not to throw tithing out just because it is connected with the law. Jesus said that He did not come to do away with the law but to fulfill it. Jesus said you have neglected the weightier matters, justice, mercy and faith, these you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.