The Path of Discipleship - Why We Give as We Do

In this article, I am going to reflect on the different ways that Christians give, specifically to the church.  I know in past articles I have focused on the idea that stewardship is more than giving money to a church, but is reflected in all of the choices of what we do with what we have.  Our Christian stewardship of money impacts what we spend on ourselves, what we save, and what we give away including what we give to a congregation.  Many of us learned about giving by observing our parents or family and so many congregations have a learned culture of giving.

                For Lutherans as well as for many traditional American congregations, giving is shaped by a model found in the book of Acts.  “Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common…There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold.  They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”( Acts 4:32;34-45)  This is not exactly how the church is living.  Very few Christian communities of any size adopt a radical, communal lifestyle.  But congregations have been imprinted with the idea of the church as a community, responsible for one another, caring for one another and, importantly, sharing what they have in a fair way.

                This is even more marked in congregations of Scandinavian heritage that may come with a cultural worldview known today in Swedish as jantelagen, a disdain for sticking out or seeming more important than others.  In many congregations, what developed was an ethic of equality, so giving was about people determining their fair share of congregation’s expenses.  In some cases, this led to a system of dues, where every member paid a weekly or annual fee.  In other cases, it simply led to a culture where over time people figured the least amount (the fair share) that an average person should have to give.  This is also why many of these congregations have a heritage of barely covering their expenses each year, because most budgets are planned to let the congregation just get by.  Giving is tied to the congregational budget.  If expenses are lower, giving tends to be lower as well.

                I would argue that the fair share model that still shapes giving in many mainline congregations no longer works and hasn’t been working for at least my twenty years of ministry.  It may have worked well in immigrant communities where family incomes were at similar levels for most of the congregation and costs were relatively low.  As costs have increased and income levels have diversified, a standard fair share will be an easy burden for some and a heavy burden for others.

                Other communities, especially those of Evangelical or Fundamentalist persuasion, tend to focus more on the individual’s personal responsibility for faith.  Thus giving also is about a personal choice and personal discipline.  They are not asking, “What is my fair share for this community?” but “How is God asking me, personally, to give?”  The most common answer to that question is a tithe.  The tithe (or tenth) is a concept that appears primarily in Hebrew scripture.  According to the Book of Numbers, the Levite priesthood is supported by tithes from the rest of the tribes of Israel (Numbers 18:21).  Leviticus defines the tithe of a herd or flocks as “every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s staff.”  (Leviticus 27:32).  The frequency of tithing is unclear.  At times, people offer a tithe for a special occasion or dedication to God.  The whole nation was supposed to tithe at least once a year at the harvest. 

                The tithe is not mentioned much in the New Testament.  Jesus critiques the Pharisees for being very careful with their tithing, even tithing their spices, while neglecting to live with justice and mercy.  This absence may be because between the writing of Leviticus and the New Testament, the economy had shifted from a purely agrarian economy to a money-based economy.  When everyone is giving produce and livestock, the tithing system works.  When everyone is giving money, the tithing system works.  In Jesus’ time, some were still giving agrarian gifts and some were giving money.  The definition of a tithe was probably a bit muddy in that context.

                Today most people seem to have moved away from the original concept of tithing, a tenth of one’s holdings, to a more practical concept, a tenth of one’s income.  This makes sense because most of us don’t receive our income in one batch at a harvest but spaced throughout the year.  So those who tithe, donate 10% from their regular income (normally pre-tax).  Tithers see a number of benefits to this practice.  It forces you to control your money and, for many, leads to working within a budget.  It directly answers the, “How much should I give?” question.  In communities with a variety of income levels, it allows for a fair way to talk about giving.

                The main critiques of the practice of tithing are not so much with the practice but how it is presented.  Tithing can fall into an empty legalism, determining who is faithful by what they give, rediscovering the law-based faith of the biblical Pharisees.  It can lead to “magic”/transactional/prosperity thinking with leaders proclaiming that those who tithe faithfully will be blessed with more.  If you give, then you will get.  At an extreme, giving is not about honoring God or serving God, but manipulating God to get more.

                Tithing is simply a model for giving, a scriptural model that has been modified to work in a changing economy.  It is certainly a faithful way to give and a simple way to think about giving.  The good news of grace is that God’s love is not dependent on what we give or how we give.  The freedom of the gospel is that we can find other models and experiment with how to give. 

                An alternative way to think about giving might be to use Jesus’ teaching from the Sermon on the Mount.  “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)  How you spend is a reflection of your priorities.  You pay taxes if it is a priority to be a good citizen.  You pay a mortgage or rent because housing is important.  You buy food because you need food.  You also spend money on things you don’t need, entertaining yourself, treating yourself.  How does what you give away to churches and charities fit into that scheme?  Based on your personal spending, that is, where your treasure goes, where is your heart?  What are your priorities?  Does your congregation look like a priority in your spending?  Does the kingdom of God, where the hungry are fed and the needy are cared for, look like a priority? 

                This article is an invitation to think more deeply about giving and explore different models of giving, using the freedom we have as disciples.   You can explore tithing.  Figure out what 10% would be and ask yourself how it feel to give that amount; perhaps try it for a few months.  You can explore priority giving.  How would it feel to match what you spend on yourself for entertainment with what you give away?  Again, try it for a month or two.  Challenge yourself to be generous.  Deepen your understanding of what it means to be a steward.  Let your life be a reflection of our God who is eternally generous.