Don't you love those chocolate Easter bunnies!?! (Fair Product Feature: Chocolate)

My wife just returned from the grocery store with our first Fair Trade chocolate purchase. I had asked her to look for Divine Chocolate, but she could only find Green & Black's candy bars at HEB. (At least at that particular location on this particular day.) I asked her to get me a milk chocolate one, and here it is. (Side note: My wife is extraordinarily wonderful!)

I figure with the massive chocolate buying holiday of Easter coming soon, I would learn a little more about the chocolate industry's relationship to slave labor around the world. Now that I introduced this topic in my previous post, what do I practically do with this new information?

To be honest, the first thing I will probably do is just buy less chocolate. Period. Regardless of where the cocoa beans are harvested or how it is produced, less chocolate would be a generally good move to counter some of my other unhealthy eating habits that are beginning to take a toll on me.

But, as promised in my last post on this issue, here are ideas I am considering as I try to fight human trafficking and slavery while caving to the desires of my sweet tooth at the same time.

1. Honestly assess what it will mean to my checkbook. Below are the price comparisons my wife found at the store today. (Click on the company's names below and you will go to their human rights ethical production ratings from Free2Work.) Hershey's is able to sell their chocolate for about 1/3 of the price of fair trade chocolate producers. As you can see, the cost of maintaining and monitoring ethical supply chains, fair wages, and safe working conditions, free of child labor, are passed on to the consumer. That is you and me. Contrary to some people's thinking, we (the consumers) matter greatly in this process!




Green & Black's - $0.85 per ounce
Ghirardelli - $0.63 per ounce
Dove - $0.53 per ounce
Hershey's - $0.30 per ounce


2. Actively look for brands that are doing the BEST of ethical treatment of farmers and workers. Here are a few. (Keep in mind that I am new to this and there may be many others.)

Divine Chocolate

Green & Black's

Lily's Sweets

3. Send notes to companies who have historically been some of the WORST human rights' violators in the industry. Made in a Free World makes this easy to do with just a couple clicks of your mouse. This one hurts because these are some of my favorites.


4. Keep learning. Due to different standards and numerous organizations associated with Fair Trade, this subject is already complicated to begin with. What makes it worse is how secretive and even deceptive some companies are when it comes to their business practices. For example, some of the bigger companies in this industry may "spin" things to appear generous, ethical, and compassionate. It is becoming popular for companies to make donations toward causes or public announcements about efforts to clean their supply chains by 2020 (or whatever year they pick). 

The good news is that companies are feeling the pressure to even take these steps, whether they are genuine or not. That means public perception about these issues is growing and businesses are starting to consider their "image" in a social justice way like never before. The bad news is that "lip service" might take the place of real action for the sake of profit in the short-term. With all this in mind, I will just have to continue to do my research.

5. Encourage my church-attending friends and pastors to be conscious of the brands they use to fill Easter eggs and baskets this year. I hope that many of them will consider the companies like those mentioned in #2 above.

This may be one more reason why we should take a step back and seriously look at our "Christian" Easter celebrations. I am not going to be that old, crotchety guy that gets on a soapbox, but I can't help but wonder how many distractions we have introduced as we mix Good Friday and Resurrection with hidden eggs and magic bunnies. (Yes, I am hypocrite. My daughter will probably go to an Easter egg hunt this year like she has in the past. I may be having a personal crisis of conscience. Well, maybe more on that at another time. For now, let's just focus on ending child slave labor.)

Priorities

By now, I have shared a lot about how we "do church" simply.

You can see our Mission in a Minute and our Plan on a Page.

You can start to read beliefs about Children and our Measures of Success.

Our theology, evangelism, and discipleship is entirely based on one question: Who is Jesus to you?

In addition, we do have some practices that we want to keep at the forefront of the way we "do church." These are priorities for us, and we do not declare that they should be priorities for any other churches or ministries. Here are a few:

• NO WALLS: Our ministries are not primarily based around buildings. The money, energy, property and personnel required to keep a church building running is not the wisest use of resources for our particular church network.

Scene from Patch Adams movie

• "PATCH ADAMS" APPROACH: The main character (played by Robin Williams) in the movie Patch Adams (based on a true story) is driven by his belief that every person is both a doctor and a patient. Likewise, we believe every person is a teacher and a learner. The expectation is that each follower of Christ can both give and receive ministry. We try to keep a participatory model that involves everyone (all ages) as much as possible so there are no passive spectators. There may be times when one person will teach a lesson or facilitate a series, but these are exceptions, not the rule.

• SOCIAL JUSTICE: In other places, I have reflected on growth barriers vs. impact barriers as a metric of effectiveness. I see a gauge of our community's spiritual health in how well we attempt to break through obstacles so that we can minister to more people in our communities and cities more effectively. Each person is encouraged to foster a cause or need that they are passionate about. One way we try to harness these interests is in meeting needs both Here (locally) and There (globally/internationally).

As I said, these are some of our priorities.

My Simple Church Guide

For those of you that can't handle a church group not having a manual to address all the "big rocks" like doctrine and evangelism and leadership, here you go. This is what ours would look like.

Our Theology & Beliefs

• Jesus is All.
• Be willing to unlearn some things so that you can learn new insights.

Evangelism & Outreach

• Ask and answer one question: Who is Jesus to you?

Discipleship & Ministry

• Let the answer to the question in the previous section dictate how you live.

Church & Fellowship

• Keep it simple!

Leadership & Service

• The Holy Spirit is the Leader. Everyone else follows as they share in His gifts. 

Organization & Policies

• This section is not applicable due to no buildings, budgets, or big shots. 

There you go!

Why the Golden Rule is Key to Freedom

I could pretend to be really smart and try to write about the topics to which I am going to refer here, but it is much better and easier to just defer to people who can articulate it better. That being said, for those interested, check out these two articles.

https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/9-three-rules-of-human-conduct

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harm_principle

In short, the Iron Rule is about might. Bigger and stronger rules over smaller and weaker. The Silver Rule is a negative principle. It says, "Do not do unto others what you would not want them to do to you." It operates on the principle of reciprocity, and is the basis for much of the law in our society.

The Iron Rule can keep people in bondage. The Silver Rule is a step up because it at least says that we should not enslave others. However, neither of these rules prompt us to "set the captives free" if there is no harm to us.

The Golden Rule is set apart as a positively stated directive. It tells each of us to do to/for others what we would want done to/for us. Jesus issues the Golden Rule to dictate how we live because it is the rule of Love, not the rule of law. Ultimately, it requires His divine love to set people free, spiritually and physically. 

This concept of the "three rules" ties in directly with the issues related to modern day slavery because it is hard to see that we are in any way complicit in the problem. We are distanced from the anguish of human trafficking and forced labor by supply chains, business practices, policies, underground activities (even in our own backyard), and other factors. 

I know I am. 

Sometimes, it makes doing the right thing even more challenging. 

It is so uncomfortable. It is so inconvenient.

It is so Jesus. 

So, I pray that it will become so me.

Ten Thousand Villages and Elephant Poop

My daughter and her friend on our trip to Ten Thousand Villages store in Austin earlier this month

Today, I am featuring Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade retailer with stores all over, including Austin. I went there for the first time around New Year's, and the fact that I am sharing about this enjoyable shopping experience is more incredible that you can imagine because I hate shopping! 

But this place is about more than shopping. It is about a cause, which they put front and center. It is about a story, or more precisely, many stories. Stories of real lives affected by their business.

It was not merely a shopping experience, but a learning and giving experience.

Wow! You can get a deal on everything here!

My daughter's favorite part was learning about the paper products that are made from elephant poop! 

Did you know that elephants poop about 16 times a day?! See, that is just one of the life-changing facts we learned while in the store! I tried to move on to more serious lessons, but my middle school daughter was kind of stuck on this one. Okay, me too, a little.

Poop to paper process

The whole world of fair trade markets is still new to me. I am grateful to Allies for inviting Becca to share with ordinary people like me about the concept of fair trade and the mission of organizations like Ten Thousand Villages.

These non-profits alter the lives of individuals and slowly make systemic changes to the international marketplace.
All this work requires countless hours of donated time because stores like this one are completely volunteer-run.


Here is the blurb about Ten Thousand Villages from their website:

Ten Thousand Villages is an exceptional source for unique handmade gifts, jewelry, home decor, art and sculpture, textiles, serveware and personal accessories representing the diverse cultures of artisans in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. One of the world's largest fair trade organizations and a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), the company strives to improve the livelihood of tens of thousands of disadvantaged artisans in 38 countries. Ten Thousand Villages accomplishes this by establishing a sustainable market for handmade products in North America, and building long term buying relationships in places where skilled artisan partners lack opportunities for stable income. Product sales help pay for food, education, healthcare and housing for artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed.

Having the Tithe of My Life (7) - Final Thoughts

What I Believe & Teach NOW
As I have already mentioned in earlier posts, not long ago, I went back to our denominational Manual to re-read the stance on tithing and look up the Scripture references included with that doctrine.  My denomination includes explanations and directions for "storehouse tithing."  Beneath these paragraphs were almost 15 different Bible passages.  As I went through them one by one, I found something rather shocking.  Almost none of them have any form of the word "tithe."  In fact, almost none of them even relate to the practice of tithing at all!  Of the few that do, I have discussed all of them in the previous posts.

Quite frankly, if we were to form our beliefs and practices about financial stewardship from the references listed, then it probably wouldn't resemble the challenge to "tithe to the storehouse" as our Christian duty.  No, it would actually raise the calling much higher.  The call on the Christian life is to give everything.  According to the New Testament writers, money needs to be put in its proper place as far as level of importance.  The amount of money isn't the issue; the heart is the issue!

Let me share some of the examples:

Matthew 6:24-34 ~ Do not worry because God meets needs.
Matthew 25:31-46 ~ Separation of the sheep and the goats.  Take care of the needy because that is how we serve Jesus.
Mark 10:17-31 ~ Jesus tells a rich young man to sell everything and give to the poor if he wants to enter the kingdom of God.  (Not an "altar call" invitation I hear often!)
Luke 12:13-24 ~ A parable about a rich fool to warn the readers to guard against greed.
Luke 19:11-27 ~ A parable of 10 Minas to stress the point of putting your talent to work.
John 15:1-17~ Not sure what the thinking was as to why/how this got thrown in as a "proof text" for tithing, but it is about the importance of abiding, or remaining, in Christ, and illustrates how we are nothing apart from him.
Romans 12:1-13 ~ Paul's famous teaching about "living sacrifices."  There is a reference to sharing with those in need in verse 13.

There are others, like 1 Corinthians 9 or 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 or 1 Timothy 6:3-21 that are also cited.  These passages discuss the rights of an apostle and encourage generosity and caution that the love of money can lead to evil.  Even the oft-quoted 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, which instructs the reader to "be a cheerful giver" makes NO mention of (or even implies) tithing!


So what do I teach people now when tithing or money or stewardship comes up?

1.  Read the Bible.  Seriously!  Read it for yourself.  Go directly to the Scriptures and look it up.  (I am ashamed to say that this is not something I taught much in the past.  I would tell people what the Bible says so they wouldn't have to go look it up on their own.  What a service I provided them, huh?)

2.  Stand on what is certain.  Just because we might be confused about some things in the Bible doesn't mean there are not some obvious, clear convictions in it that we can "take to the bank" (poor pun intended).  For example, James is pretty emphatic when he states, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27).  This is one of many references throughout the Scriptures that clearly and consistently indicate that God cares for widows, orphans, aliens, and the poor, and in turn, desires that we care for them, as well.  God's priorities do rise to the surface when people honestly read the Bible, whether they have a seminary degree or a 3rd grade education.

3.  Allow for FREEDOM where you can't be certain.  Let me conclude again - It may be that some people should tithe.  Others probably should not.  This series of posts is NOT a tirade against tithing.  It is about receiving truth from God's words outside of our distorted denominational and traditional lenses.  The truth is that God may want someone to give 10% of their income to one cause and someone else 40% to another cause.  It is apparent that Jesus invited people to salvation in different ways.  We need to be open to the idea that entrance into salvation for some people might be selling everything they own and giving their profit to the poor, while for others it might be declaring Jesus is Lord and confessing it with their mouth publicly.  To some he says, "Be born again!"  To others, he says, "Believe in me!"  All these ways point to the same place, but we must allow for people to freely live in Christ in unique ways.

4.  God wants it ALL!!!  My final word on all this is that the irony of this whole discussion is that it is actually pretty silly.  A debate of whether we should give 10% here or there, or in which way, gross or net,...blah, blah, blah.  Can you imagine the early disciples who gave their lives for following Jesus being time-warped to our day and hearing these conversations and sermons?!  They could only react, "This is so ridiculous! What are these people talking about? Where in the world did you get the idea that you owe God 10% or 23% or 90% of anything?"  We would do well to look at what Jesus demands of his followers in the New Testament.  Guess how much? Yeah, ALL OF IT!!! Everything. Everywhere. Every time. No exceptions. He says that if we won't give our whole lives, then the deal's off. And we're sitting around debating about 10% of our material wealth! Hmmm...something's wrong with this picture!

But don't take what I teach as your gospel.  Review the passages referenced above for yourself and see what conclusions you reach.  You will know the truth and the truth will set you free!

I have a friend who, when asked now about whether he tithes, he answers that he now practices radical generosity. I like that. Let's try that for a bit, shall we?

Having the Tithe of My Life (6)

Why Even Bring It Up?  FREEDOM!!!
If this topic of tithing (or money, in general) has the potential to be so controversial, then why bring it up?  Am I doing this just to cause disagreement and division?  Is my motive to show someone is right and someone else is wrong?  Well, I certainly hope not! 

There is one reason why I want to reflect on this teaching.  It is freedom.  Notice that I have not argued that all Christians should change or stop how they tithe.  At the same time, I have also not argued that everyone who tithes should continue to do so without understanding why.  My bottom line is this:  Do what you believe God is leading you to do!  For some people, God may use the practice of a tithe to teach and shape them into what He wants them to become.  For others, He may not.  Each person has to evaluate the cause and effect of their tithing routine.  Sometimes, it is healthy and helps to advance the kingdom.  In other cases, it may actually be counterproductive and there are better ways to spread the gospel.  The point is NOT for me to tell you what to do!!!

So, the final measure at the end of the day is, Are you FREE in the TRUTH?  The truth of God and His Word can and will and does set us free.  It is true!  We are people created to walk in freedom.  Some who tithe do so out of the freedom they enjoy; others do so out of a sense of obligation and duty.  It weighs them down.  In short, they are in bondage.  They are tied down to a rule and checklist of misunderstood discipleship.  It is not healthy or right for them to be in such a state.  Our job is to be administers of God's grace, helping people - all people - move toward the truth and set them free!

That is why I bring it up.

Keep in mind the context of my blog – “How Much Greater” we can make the world, faith and life for our children and teenagers as they grow up. It definitely matters what we teach them in terms of what we say God thinks about their money.

Having the Tithe of My Life (5)

Jesus & The Early Church
Interestingly, for as much as tithing is emphasized in churches today, if you were to do a Bible study on the practice of tithing in the New Testament, it would be a short study indeed.  Now that we've looked at some of the Old Testament background behind the tithe, we must wonder what Jesus said about it.  How often did he instruct his disciples to do it?  What instruction did Paul give the churches he helped plant in regard to receiving and distributing tithes?

Strangely, the New Testament is virtually silent on the issue.  Some will argue against that statement, but a lot of our teachings about tithing and stewardship and giving that we take from New Testament passages may have more to do with what we read into them than what we discover out of them.  So, let me bottom line this point by saying that we have no record of Jesus ever directing his followers to give tithes to anyone.  We also have no record of any first-century church practicing the ritual of giving/receiving a tithe.  This will probably come as a surprise to some because many of us have been told our whole lives how tithing is a biblical practice and a divine expectation of church members.  (I confess to believing this and teaching it to others in the past. See my first post in this series.)

Let me share an interesting discovery I recently made.  I went through our denominational manual and looked up the section on tithing.  It begins by explaining that we teach and practice storehouse tithing for all the reasons I used to teach people.  Then, it lists all scripture references related to the topic (you know, as the "biblical backing" for why we do what we do).  I looked up every single one and read it in its context.  The main ideas ranged from not worrying about anything because God meets needs (Matthew 6:24-34) to guarding against greed (Luke 12:13-24) to understanding worship as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-13).  There were others:  "Rich Young Man" (Mark 10), "Vine and the Branches" (John 15), and the ever famous "love of money" passage in 1 Timothy 6.  While all these are wonderful teachings, do you know what was remarkably, strangely absent?  Any reference to tithing!!!

Even the oft-quoted "be a cheerful giver" reference from 2 Corinthians 9 makes no direct mention or even an implication to the practice of tithing.

Tell me why, if it is so Christian to tithe, is it so difficult to find a single commandment in the New Testament telling believers to do it?!

Having the Tithe of My Life (4)

The Law of Moses
One thing is for sure - tithing is definitely a subject brought up multiple times in the Mosaic Law.  In the Old Testament, we see a system set in place full with sacrifices, rituals, ceremonies, offerings, and priests.  There was much discussion about ceremonial cleansing and holiness.  It was clear that God introduced the concept of certain individuals mediating between him and everyday people, and at some level, we can attribute all of this to the simple reality that he was perfect and they were not.  And there is one other enormous reality of their day and time that warranted such a ritualistic, disciplined system of worship...Jesus had not yet come!

One practice that was in full effect for the Israelites under the old covenant was the tithe.  So what can we observe about this component of their religious life and community?

1.  Before, and upon, entering the Promised Land, Moses sets out clear responsibilities for one of the tribes known as the Levites.  They are the priestly tribe, responsible for the work at the Tent of Meeting.  "The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the Testimony" (Numbers 1:52-54).  Because the Levites were set apart for special duties, they were not to receive an inheritance of land as they moved in to Canaan.  All other tribes were given a specific allotment of land.  Rather than being in charge of their own dwelling like everyone else, the Levites had to be concerned, in a very serious manner, with "the Lord's dwelling" so to speak.  Thus, one of the tithes instituted helped serve the purpose of providing food for the Levites, and giving them something to sacrifice to the Lord in offerings.  It was a tithe given by the other Israelites and received by the Levites.

2.  Another important aspect of Israelite worship was that of national festivals and celebrations.  God instituted events such as Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks or Firstfruits, the Feast of Trumpets (which was their version of a New Year's party), and more.  Remembering how God had intervened in their lives was a crucial part of Israelite worship, so these festivals became an instrumental way of shaping the attitude of repentance and gratitude to solidify the bond that God desired to have with his children.  The Bible tells us that one of the tithes required of Israel was intended to be use to provide for these corporate events.3.  Another significant and repeated word of instruction in the Law of Moses is that a tithe should be received so that, in addition to the Levites, the aliens, fatherless, widows, and poor would be sufficiently taken care of.  People facing these hard circumstances were to be comforted and looked after appropriately.  Not doing so seemed to elicit God's anger with his own people.

**Some Scriptures you might want to look up include Leviticus 27:30-33, Numbers 18 (verses 21 & 24 specify Levitical roles), Deuteronomy 14:22-29, and Deuteronomy 26:12-15.
To conclude, if you read through the referenced passages above, then you may begin to make some additional observations without having to read anything into the text.  For instance, it will probably stand out to you (from the Bible text itself and the notes above) that more than one tithe is commanded.  There were annual tithes and triennial tithes, and you may also note that they went to different "causes."  Many scholars agree that this certainly puts our "ten percent" rule under scrutiny.  In fact, some argue that with the combined tithes, the Israelites were required to give more like 23% of their produce or income!  I am not personally familiar with any church teaching this kind of tithing.

Finally, I will end on something that should be easy for us all to agree on.  Whatever, or however, the tithe was given and received, there was a clear emphasis on giving the best, or first, of what you had.  Regardless of where we fall on this debate, I think this should be a point we all walk away with firmly in mind and heart.

Having the Tithe of My Life (3)

Hebrews 7, Genesis 14 - Abraham's Tithe
One of the more often used passages to "prove" the universal, long-lasting ordinance of tithing is taken from Genesis 14 (and Hebrews 7).  Basically, Hebrews 7 gives us the lens at which to view the events of Genesis 14:18-20.  To summarize, Abraham presents a tithe to Melchizidek, and thus, the argument is that this demonstrates that the practice of tithing occurs centuries before it is mandated for the Israelites in the Law of Moses.  Therefore, tithing is meant to be practiced, it is said, by everyone following God, not just the Israelites bound by the laws found in the Old Testament.

(Before continuing, I recommend that you click on the links above and read the text of these passages for yourself.  In fact, while linked to the Bible Gateway site, you can even read them in a few different translations.)

Some observations and questions about these passages:

1.  As with most verses taken out of context, the mistake is usually taking what is a description of what happened there and then, and turning it into a prescription of what should happen here and now.  Genesis 14 describes what Abraham did.  There is no dogmatic commandment to tithe or not to tithe in these passages.

2.  Abraham does indeed give a tithe.  Let's not pretend that is up for debate.  The nature of his tithe is that it was a voluntary gift/offering of the plunder from battle.  In other words, it was the stuff he had just taken from other people, not his own belongings.  This is the only record of Abraham ever tithing, so the only evidence we have is of a one-time act, but admittedly, the "absence of evidence" doesn't necessarily equate to "evidence of absence."

3.  What is the point of Hebrews 7?  Is it telling the reader to model behavior after Abraham?  It clearly emphasizes that Jesus is in the "order of Melchizedek."  Melchizedek is described as an extraordinary priest with extraordinary authority that supercedes the role and position of the Levites.  The 16th verse explains that he was a priest of a different sort to say the least, "not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancenstry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life."  He blessed Abraham, not the other way around.  That makes him the greater figure, according to Hebrews.  What kind of man/king/being was this Melchizedek?  We're left wondering to some extent, but Hebrews paints him as a type of Christ, a foreshadowing of the Messiah!  In fact, I would encourage anyone to enjoy the blessing of reading through the rest of chapter 7 and even on in to chapters 8 and 9 of Hebrews.  There is tremendous theological content here that helps make clear just how special, powerful, and sufficient Jesus is as our High Priest.  There is also much said that highlights the "new covenant" over the "old covenant."  In short, the question needs to be asked, "Is the point of the passage what a great example Abraham is because he gave a tithe, or is the point what a profound example Melchizedek is because of his authority to receive a tithe?"

Having the Tithe of My Life (2)

Malachi 3 - Robbing God
Now that I've discussed where I have been generally with this teaching, let's begin to explore where I am going.  Let's get started with what is arguably the best known passage of Scripture read from pulpits all over when it comes to tithing:  Malachi 3.

The following comes directly from a script I used to teach from in a seminar about Christian maturity in the section on giving:  "The first practical way you give as a maturing Christian is to tithe, or give a tithe.  Tithe means a tenth.  Now, for millennia, and throughout Scripture, the tithe has served as the foundation for giving.  It is a basic, minimum level that all other giving is built upon.  This is really the first part of practical giving that we have to get down in this life." 

Then, with conviction, I would later add that refusing to tithe is stealing from God, and then immediately quote Malachi 3:8-10.  I even included fill-in-the-blank notes so the participants could write it down.  I must confess that I taught this interpretation of this Scripture at that time for one simple reason - it is the only one that had ever been presented to me.  Moreover, it was reiterated time and time again by pastors, books, ordination courses, etc.  I have heard this preached about and lectured on, and I had no reason to doubt that this interpretation was the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth...so help me God!  As I stated earlier, I didn't (and still don't) teach anything that I didn't believe myself.

Before breaking this passage down, first I want to mention one basic, common sense reminder of an obvious fact.  There were no 501c3, IRS-designated non-profit organizations called "churches" in the Middle East in the first century, and especially not at the time of Malachi's prophecy!  The idea that any and all teachings about tithes in the Bible, especially the Old Testament, are automatically transferable to our current church structure in the West today is quite a leap, and even absurd in many cases.  After all, there is a reason Christian churches don't practice animal sacrifices today even though it is clearly a Biblical concept. We must consider the context of the teachings!  Second, I want to note the major difference between the passage I quoted in my class script above and the passage I referenced at the beginning of this post.  That difference is about 15 verses!  In other words, my past understanding of this passage always came from only three verses!  Taking the whole chapter into consideration, we might walk away with a different perspective, a new revelation.

For example, I had always thought that not tithing was what the verse referred to as "robbing God."  However, the text actually says that the robbing of God was occurring "IN tithes and offerings" (3:8).  I don't want to make any dogmatic claims about this reading.  I guess it could be taken either way, but I think we should be open to the idea that the tithes were indeed taking place and yet the people were STILL robbing God!!  So, maybe we need to ask if there is more to the story.

What is the prophet talking about in the preceding verses?  Let's see...he brings up the Levites in verse 3, and talks about what constitutes righteous offerings and acceptable offerings as in the past (v. 3-4), and quite significantly, he condemns fraudalent and oppressive behaviors and reminds the readers/hearers that God's focus is on the laborers, widows, fatherless, and aliens (v. 5).

I want to be careful here not to imply too much.  The passage may honestly leave me with more questions than answers.  I don't think the passage instructs anyone not to tithe, so we can't walk away with a "free pass" based on these words.  I don't think the passage in any way whatsoever teaches people to give a tenth of their income to an organization.  I DO think that the passage is clearly grounded in the context of God being more than a little upset with the Israelites for not keeping His priorities in place.  I have to wonder if God's "beef" with Israel is not that they were not tithing, but perhaps that they were not using the tithe for its appropriate and intended purposes - to support justice and restoration for those with the greatest need.

And just for good measure, I will also add that I would be more cautious than many of my Christian friends about taking verse 10 to mean that God will pour out material blessings on us if we would just honor him by tithing.  This "slot machine" theology is dangerous, and possibly worse, heretical.  We don't pay for God's grace or favor.  That would undo everything we understand to be so great about the gospel.

Having the Tithe of My Life (1)

Well, it was only a matter of time I suppose.  I had to quit beating around the bush and plunge headfirst into a controversial topic.  My take on it will surprise some, bless others, and still offend a few more.  The issue I intend to take up in the next few posts is the subject of tithing.  Before I begin, let me make my often used disclaimer yet again.  My goal with these writings is to get people, including myself, to take the Bible seriously and contextually.  What I mean is that I don't want to be guilty of just imposing my own beliefs on the text while totally disregarding the "when, where, and why" the words were originally written in the first place.  These factors go far in shaping its meaning.

Today, let me begin with what I used to teach about tithing.  I spent a good portion of my ministry in the IC proclaiming these ideas, and even encouraging others to turn around and proclaim them also.  I apologize for any false teachings I may have spread along the way, and I can only say for myself that I did so with an honest and sincere heart.  And might I add, the same is true for me now!

So, what did I teach?

First, I taught that tithing was a duty of the Christian life - that it was a mark of discipleship, of spiritual maturity.  I encouraged people to give one-tenth of their income as a minimum, or "starting place."

Second, I taught that the concept of storehouse tithing known in the days of the Israelites in the Old Testament was still applicable today.  I taught people to think of our present churches (501c3 non-profit organizations) as the modern day equivalent of the ancient storehouses.  Therefore, I promoted the practice of bringing "your tithes to the storehouse" or church building.
Third, I taught that it was appropriate to use a significant portion of the tithes to pay clergy and staff as well as fund religious programs.  This teaching was partly based upon the Old Testament practice of using the tithe to support the Levites, who were the religious leaders (priests) of the people of God.

Fourth, I taught that tithing in the manner that I have described so far was justified biblically.  I offered several Scripture passages, including ones that I interpreted in such a way as to persuade people that tithing was both a serious obligation and a means to spiritual and material blessings.
Finally, I taught all of this because I wholeheartedly believed it.  I lived it.  I practiced it.  My family budgeted around it, and the practice of tithing was a strong conviction that I personally connected with my own integrity and discipleship.  It was literally one of the measures of my "walk with Christ."

That should suffice to set the scene for what I believe and teach now.  If you, like me, hold to many of the above ideas, then please proceed through upcoming posts cautiously.  In my final post on this topic, I will explain why I even write about it at all since I know it can potentially cause much disagreement.