CHEERFUL GIVING HAS ITS REWARDS; TITHING NECESSARY FOR MINISTRIES TO CONTINUE

Pastors and evangelists agree that faithful giving by believers is necessary for churches and other ministries to flourish and do God's work. They also believe that God rewards a cheerful giver.

What the place of tithing is, compared with giving and whether tithers may be rewarded financially as well as spiritually, however, are matters of contention.

Probably the earliest reference to tithing in the Bible appears in Lev. 27:30-33: "A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord."

Traditionally, the term tithe has referred to the giving of 10 percent of an individual or family's income to the home church. Other needs are typically met by special offerings.

Not everyone accepts the term tithe today.

"Our belief is that tithing, although taught in the Old Testament, is not taught in the New Testament," said Hal Greene, senior pastor of Cape Bible Chapel. "This is significant because the church of Jesus Christ is a New Testament institution. Tithing is nowhere to be found in the New Testament."

Many disagree with Greene.

"It's a very Biblical concept. If we are faithful to God, he will be faithful to us," said Monsignor Richard Rolwing, pastor of St. Mary's Cathedral. "From the earliest times, fidelity to God has been important.

"It also applies to time and talent, in the sense of real stewardship. Today time is money, so getting one to give time is an accomplishment. We encourage them to look at the total picture, rather than financially only.

"It seems inconsistent for a church to proclaim that salvation is by grace alone, and then to put membership under the (Old Testament) rule of law, when it comes to giving," Greene said.

Not that the members of Cape Bible Chapel, which has undergone massive growth since its relocation the northwest side of town in 1984, don't believe in giving.

"Obviously our needs are met," Greene said. "We're in the middle of probably the biggest building project in the city. We have no one backing us except the Lord. We've made no pleas for money."

The church is under taking a $2.4 million construction project.

They are obviously being met at Lynwood Baptist Church, as well, where a massive building project has just been completed. Including purchase of land, Lynwood has spent some $4 million in moving from its former location at Randol and Lynwood to the new Lynwood Hills subdivision.

"The story of Lynwood is the faithfulness of God and his people," said Mark Anderson, pastor. "That has been true in many areas in the church, including financial giving."

Another area of contention is whether God has promised to return one's tithe "with interest."

"I have mixed feelings," said John Gregory, pastor of Maple United Methodist Church. "I won't argue it if someone gives a testimony to that effect, but I don't highlight that, either.

"We just lift it up as a Biblical standard -- a thankfulness for what God had ALREADY done. We receive more in terms of peace with God than financial return."

Television evangelist Pat Robertson coined the phrase "The Law of Reciprocity" in his book, "The Secret Kingdom." He bases it on Luke 6:38, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap." It is also based on the "equal and opposite reaction" theory.

According to Christian Broadcasting Network Web site information, tithing "is an important way to show him our love, respect and gratitude, and to acknowledge that all we have comes from him."

Among other scripture verses CBN uses to back up its case are Malachi 3:10-12, Proverbs 19:17 and II Corinthians 9:8-12.

Scripture clearly does promise God's blessings for those who give willingly to God's work.

Malachi 3:10 says "'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,' said the Lord Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.'"

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously," says II Corinthians 9:6. "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

Whether the anticipated blessings are entirely spiritual or also material, is a matter of contention.

"You're dealing with a spirit of generosity," Rolwing said. "If we are generous with God, you know he'll take care of us. That's not why we do it. We don't want to try to force God's hand. Bargaining with God is not the spirit of the Scripture."

"There are some who have a wrong expectation of God," Anderson said. "All of us deal with that at times in our walk with God. Because we do something for him, we feel he owes us. But that's not the model of Christianity. He gave everything, not knowing whether the world would ever respond to him.

"God's word says he will bless us in our obedience. That doesn't always mean financial gain. There are Christians who live their life with very little, who were obedient in their giving and died with little."

Both tithing and additional giving to one's church are vital to the church's function. Churches of all size rely on the membership's faithfulness.

"In spite of declining population, our giving has gone up," Rolwing said. "The people have been very generous."

"One of the strengths of our church is its financial stewardship," said Gregory. "I am amazed and blessed by it. We only averaged 75 (people) per service last year, but had budget expenditures of over $90,000 -- well over $1,000 per person. For a UMC church, that's a pretty good level."

Between $75,000 and $80,000 was collected in plate offerings. Another $25,000 to $30,000 was collected in special offerings for the Maple building fund last year.

"It shows the people's humility," Gregory said. "Some families are strong tithing families. The mother, father and children all tithe. It's obviously taught in the home."

"We believe a Christian should be taught biblical principals of giving," Greene said. "Then it becomes unnecessary to pressure or coerce people to give. They will give willingly, as unto the Lord. We don't take up offerings during public services. Offering boxes are in the lobby."

Preaching on giving is always a ticklish, but necessary topic for ministers.

"It's not something we hit super-hard," Gregory said.

"It's a difficult subject to address," Anderson said. "Some pastors say too much about it and some say too little about it. Invariably, when a pastor speaks about giving, a guest will say 'All they want is my money,' which is obviously not true."

Many of the churches put special emphasis on giving in the fall -- the traditional time of harvest. Other special offerings are taken at various times of the year.

Giving that 10 percent of one's income, when making ends meet is already difficult, has been intimidating to many Christians.

"One question many young Christians struggle with is 'It's hard for me to give 10 percent right now. What do I do?'" Anderson said. "I believe a Christian should give 10 percent of his gross income. I encourage young Christians to start somewhere and then build each year, to where they get to the point where they're giving 10 percent. Another problem, we sometimes think that 10 percent is all I'm supposed to give."

Gregory, who was assistant pastor at New McKendree UMC in Jackson and pastor at St. Lawrence in Scott County, before coming to Maple, confessed that his own tithing was not always on par.

"When I started as a pastor, I was not tithing at all. I'm thankful God helped me take that and change it," he said. "I'm embarrassed to admit it, but in my first pastorate, I was giving the way we complain about people giving -- just whatever I had in my pocket. I tithed maybe five percent. During a small group study I felt called to give more. I moved up a percent or two a year for five years."

"People here are faithful in their giving. For the most part they understand their responsibilities," Anderson said. "The giving pattern in the average church, though, is that 20 percent of the people give 80 percent of the budget. That means 20 percent in most cases is carrying the load.

"If every member tithed their income, it would be amazing what ministries would be available through the local church."