Should Christians Tithe?

Jan 26, 2009 by Gary Hoag

This is the question with which I will launch my blog, henceforth to be known as Stewardship Matters. With each Stewardship Matters posting I will concisely comment on a topic which is formational, thought-provoking and/or controversial related to stewardship from the Scriptures and invite you to interact with me.

Whether in the classroom or on calls interacting with friends of the Seminary, I have often been asked this question: Should Christians tithe?

I am typing this inaugural posting from the comfort of my tiny, warm room on the tranquil campus of Trinity College, Bristol, on a cold, damp winter day in England. I am over here doing research toward a Ph.D. in New Testament. For that reason, I will invite C.S. Lewis to chime in on the topic. These are his words. Apparently he was asked the same question.

“I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditures exclude them.”

Let me summarize his reply in one word: sacrifice. Sacrificial giving is the kind of giving Jesus celebrated with his disciples in Mark 12:41-44.

“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

So back to the question: Should Christians tithe?

I believe Christians should not view 10% of the money entrusted to them as their gift to God and 90% as belonging to them. I think they should endeavor to live simply and give far more sacrificially.

What do you think?

http://www.denverseminary.edu/stewardship-matters/should-christians-tithe/