Tithing is Not a Consumer Transaction MONEY MATTERS
WITH DR. ANDREW LEE
P
Dr. Andrew Lee is professor of English at Lee University. He also serves as a coordinator for Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. He and his wife Esmerelda have three children.
roverbs 3:9, "Honor the LORD with your wealth
and sermons online every Sunday, this consumer-transaction
and with the best part of everything you produce"
mindset continues, sounding something like this: “I didn’t
(NLT). Recently, I have felt led to write another article
have a chance to watch the livestream service this week,
about the importance of tithing. I last wrote about this topic
so I’ll resume my giving once I’m able to regularly watch
several years ago, describing my family’s testimony of
online.” Here are some serious questions to consider. Is
God’s faithfulness through tithing as the Bible instructs. But
God confined to a church building? Does He live there and
these are extraordinary times, so I’d like to revisit this issue.
can be found only inside that building? Does He continue
During our current pandemic crisis, many churches have
to bless you and give you life, protect you and your family,
either voluntarily or involuntarily closed their doors and
and answer your prayers, even in the midst of this pandemic
gone to online-only services. This has led to a marked decline
when you aren’t sitting inside your church building? Isn’t
in giving (tithes and offerings) at many churches, even
God worthy of the tenth of your income as His Word
though most churches today offer their members easy ways
instructs? I hope the answers to these questions are obvious
to give online from anywhere. Apparently, if some Christians
for Christians. His love never fails; His mercy and blessings
are not seated inside a church building with the offering bag
allow us to continue to live, and move, and have our being
being passed in front of their faces, they feel no inclination to
(Acts 17:28).
give to help fund and further the work of God’s kingdom— at least until their church resumes holding services in person. I understand the logic behind this decision (though,
I listen to a lot of podcasts regarding business, real estate, and investing, and here’s a wonderfully surprising discovery I’ve made. Many times on these podcasts, the
as I hope to show, it’s misguided logic). I’ve even spoken
guests and hosts are Christians who are unashamed and
informally with some fellow Christians on this issue, and
who are happy to give glory to God for their success. I’m
some of their responses have confirmed what I had already
talking about men and women who are worth millions, tens
surmised. The dilemma stems from viewing tithing as a
of millions, and hundreds of millions of dollars. We recall in
consumer transaction rather than as an act of worship,
the Gospels where Jesus mentions the challenge of “the rich”
obedience, and gratitude. A consumer transaction mindset
entering the kingdom of Heaven, so it’s refreshing for me to
looks at tithing this way: “Since church is closed and I’m
hear of many wealthy Christians who point to tithing as one
not sitting in the pew to receive my purchase (in the form
of the cornerstones of their financial success. Deuteronomy
of choir music and an uplifting sermon), why should I pay
8:18 reminds us, “But remember the LORD your God, for
(tithe) for a service I never received?” After all, you wouldn’t
it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” This
give money at the checkout of a clothing store if you didn’t
truth doesn’t change just because your church is temporarily
leave the store with any new clothes, would you? Even
halting in-person services. God is still (and always is) worthy
though many churches are streaming live worship music
of a tenth—the tithe.
10 // October 2020
