Tithing has been the subject of much argument. The main issue of contention has been whether or not there is a clear and definite biblical source thoroughly establishing giving ten percent to charity as an obligation, or even as a praiseworthy practice.
In the absence of a defined source, many argue that giving a set amount actually detracts from the spontaneity and goodwill in the giving, because one give out of a sense of duty and habit.
So others do try to find sources, but the results are varied and of uncertain authority. For instance, if a source for Biblical tithing is found in the Old Testament, and is not countermanded at any point, is that incumbent on Christians, or not? Is money, like a salary, to be tithed, or is tithing only for farm produce?
I would like to approach the entire affair from an opposite angle; Most people today believe that we all must pull together in making the world a better place, and we must do our part in perfecting the universe. Living for our own enjoyment is pretty meaningless, and it gets empty and boring before long. Some part of us realizes that true power and meaning can only be found in doing good. Most of us are too busy too personally effect change hands-on, and so institutions have sprung up, which do the good work for us. Can those institutions do their mandate without us? Definitely not.
So we recognize that we need to be supporting those institutions, whether we like it or not, for those institutions to do their job. And indeed, although joyful voluntary giving is admirable, we need to ensure that the charities do not collapse because of us being in a bad mood on the particular day the collection is done. The best way is to work backwards, to accept responsibility as an obligation, and then try to keep our perspective in giving as a joyful willing experience.
As an analogy: we must commit to our children, because we are responsible for their being here. However that absolutely does not mean that parenting is boring or a chore; on the contrary it is incredibly empowering and fulfilling.
So too with charity; it is real power and ability to be able to effect change on planet earth. And its being an obligation does not lessen that meaning, in fact it cements it. We are doing good, and in the most binding form possible.
At this point, whether you agree with me or not, I have arrived at accepting a concrete financial responsibility towards the betterment of our universe. Now here is the crunch; what shall that entail? Will I give a hundred dollar bill every week, just because it is a round number, or will I give a fixed percentage of what I have or earn. I think that it can be fairly argued that a fixed percentage makes the most sense. Part of that argument would be that it’s plain unfair to expect the same from a poor man as a rich man. So it has got to be a percentage, which is fair to all. What would that percentage be? Any ideas? For starters let’s take the number mentioned in Scripture, the ten percent. That would be pretty much the default number.
So perhaps we can sidestep the entire issue of whether there exists a definite ten per cent charity obligation, whether it applies universally and whether it applies to cash earnings, and not just produce. We have realized the tithing obligation, at least as an ethical habit, all on our own. We are merely taking cue from the Bible as to what would be a relevant and appropriate percentage. And there is no quarrel that ten percent is the Biblical standard for some tithe, if not all.
Where should you tithe to? I always reccommend giving your unneeded giftcards to http://www.giftkards4kids.org. Fair enough?
In the absence of a defined source, many argue that giving a set amount actually detracts from the spontaneity and goodwill in the giving, because one give out of a sense of duty and habit.
So others do try to find sources, but the results are varied and of uncertain authority. For instance, if a source for Biblical tithing is found in the Old Testament, and is not countermanded at any point, is that incumbent on Christians, or not? Is money, like a salary, to be tithed, or is tithing only for farm produce?
I would like to approach the entire affair from an opposite angle; Most people today believe that we all must pull together in making the world a better place, and we must do our part in perfecting the universe. Living for our own enjoyment is pretty meaningless, and it gets empty and boring before long. Some part of us realizes that true power and meaning can only be found in doing good. Most of us are too busy too personally effect change hands-on, and so institutions have sprung up, which do the good work for us. Can those institutions do their mandate without us? Definitely not.
So we recognize that we need to be supporting those institutions, whether we like it or not, for those institutions to do their job. And indeed, although joyful voluntary giving is admirable, we need to ensure that the charities do not collapse because of us being in a bad mood on the particular day the collection is done. The best way is to work backwards, to accept responsibility as an obligation, and then try to keep our perspective in giving as a joyful willing experience.
As an analogy: we must commit to our children, because we are responsible for their being here. However that absolutely does not mean that parenting is boring or a chore; on the contrary it is incredibly empowering and fulfilling.
So too with charity; it is real power and ability to be able to effect change on planet earth. And its being an obligation does not lessen that meaning, in fact it cements it. We are doing good, and in the most binding form possible.
At this point, whether you agree with me or not, I have arrived at accepting a concrete financial responsibility towards the betterment of our universe. Now here is the crunch; what shall that entail? Will I give a hundred dollar bill every week, just because it is a round number, or will I give a fixed percentage of what I have or earn. I think that it can be fairly argued that a fixed percentage makes the most sense. Part of that argument would be that it’s plain unfair to expect the same from a poor man as a rich man. So it has got to be a percentage, which is fair to all. What would that percentage be? Any ideas? For starters let’s take the number mentioned in Scripture, the ten percent. That would be pretty much the default number.
So perhaps we can sidestep the entire issue of whether there exists a definite ten per cent charity obligation, whether it applies universally and whether it applies to cash earnings, and not just produce. We have realized the tithing obligation, at least as an ethical habit, all on our own. We are merely taking cue from the Bible as to what would be a relevant and appropriate percentage. And there is no quarrel that ten percent is the Biblical standard for some tithe, if not all.
Where should you tithe to? I always reccommend giving your unneeded giftcards to http://www.giftkards4kids.org. Fair enough?
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