To Tithe or Not to Tithe

WARNING: This post is about Tithing!
My Sunday message will also be about Tithing!

And I hope you will join us anyway. I promise it won’t be what you think.

I realize that for some just the mention of the word ‘tithe’ can stimulate emotions. For many years, I felt fear and shame every time I heard a minister talk about it. Tithing was, like many things in the church of my youth, a means of reward or punishment. I was taught that if I follow God’s law (interpreted by man) I would be rewarded; if not, I would be punished. Ministers spoke about tithing as God’s law, and said that I if I did not comply with the law, God would punish me. I recall believing that God would get his share, one way or another. I understood that if I did not give God ten percent of my income he would cause something to happen in my life so that the money would be redirected to someone who would give it to him. For example, if I did not tithe, my washing machine might break down so that I would have to pay a godly tithing repairman to fix it. I assumed that I could give it freely or have it taken from me. From this mindset, I am aware that the subject of tithing may even bring up anger for some. From my perspective, the church was attempting to coerce me into tithing.

Later, after coming to New Thought, I came to believe that tithing was a way to ensure personal abundance. In her book, The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity, author and Unity minister Edwene Gaines, whose ideas on tithing are widely taught and accepted in Unity says, “When I think of a metaphor for tithing, I think of windows opening and a shower of sparkling gold coming in.” She cites the Scripture from Malachi 3:10 which says, 

“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing” (NRSV). 

This suggests that tithing is a way to win favor with God so that you will be blessed. While it is a variation on the traditional Christian interpretation, it still speaks of reward and punishment around tithing.

Additionally, Reverend Gaines suggests that we should tithe to the source of our spiritual food. She defines “spiritual food" as “that which inspires us, teaches us, reminds us of the Truth and causes us to remember who we really are.” Our “spiritual food” may come through a church, a friend, an author, or other channels. She says that if we are fed spiritually by our church, then we should tithe to the church. Her idea of tithing is that we are to give to the person, place or institution from which we receive. She relays a story of being inspired by something a waitress said to her in a restaurant once, so she tithed to her. In other words, as we receive, we give. Further, giving opens us to receive even more. This is more in alignment with the way I prefer to view tithing, yet this view is still not an exact fit for me.

Unity cofounder Charles Fillmore has much to say on the topic of tithing. While he seems to agree with others that tithing is a divine law that when practiced affects our experience of prosperity and abundance, he also says in his book, Prosperity, that tithing “establishes a method in giving.” He goes on to say, “True giving is the love and generosity of the Spirit-quickened heart responding to the love and generosity of the Father's heart.” Unity minister and bestselling author, Eric Butterworth, says in Spiritual Economics, “tithing is a powerful technique through which to achieve the discipline of spontaneous giving.” Butterworth also says, “Tithing is not an end, but a helpful means toward the end of living totally in a giving consciousness.”  Both Fillmore and Butterworth speak of tithing as a practice of giving, and assert that while receiving is the natural result, it is not the focus.

Rather than thinking of tithing as a divine law that when obeyed ensures a reward of prosperity, or when defied results in punishment, I prefer to consider tithing a spiritual practice of giving without regard to return. Instead of tithing TO the source of our spiritual food, I encourage us to consider giving FROM the Source of all spiritual food as an expression of Love. Rather than tithing to a person, place or institution in return for something received, I favor encouraging us to give in response to our connection with the Divine Love, and in recognition of that Love flowing as us.

Tithing should not be something we do out of duty or obligation. We should not tithe because we fear punishment. Likewise, we should not tithe because we wish to receive. Similarly, tithing should not be considered a repayment for something received. Our decision to tithe should be a conscious act of giving as an expression of Love. We give freely and joyfully in response to our awakening and to further the transforming power of Love in the world.

This Sunday, in our 10:00 service, we will explore the history, teaching and metaphysics of tithing. Please join us as we open our hearts and minds to this powerful practice, and answer for ourselves the question, “To tithe, or not to tithe?”