The issue of tithe has been a controversial issue that has caused quite a stir in the church community. Everywhere you turn, people are quarreling over tithes, tithes, and more tithes, all because of lack of understanding. But is this really necessary?
Tithing From Another Perspective:
Let’s take another look at tithing from a sociological perspective. In the Bible, tithing was a system designed to provide for the priests and the needy. The priests, especially the Levites, did not own land to farm and thus depended on tithes for their sustenance. Tithes were not meant to build churches or temples—those were funded by donations inspired by the spirit of generosity among the people.
When the spirit of God moves people, they donate willingly and abundantly. Anytime people are coerced, condemned, or threatened into giving, the spirit of God is absent. True giving should be willful and cheerful.
The tithe was essentially a welfare scheme for the priests, ensuring they had enough to eat since they served as intermediaries between God and the people. Depriving them of their livelihood was seen as wickedness. However, we no longer operate under this system. Today, it is still good to give and support the work of God, but tithes and offerings are just the minimum.
How Tithe Is Calculated:
Now, let’s talk about calculating tithes. It’s almost impossible to accurately calculate the exact 10%, and most people don’t even know what they’re giving. So, stop acting as if you’re more spiritual than others by meticulously calculating your tithes.
Modern Tithing:
But what is the right approach in this modern dispensation? I have an example that might shed some light on this.
In my community, we have a church run by Reverend Samson Boger. Poverty was rampant, and many church members were involved in illegal activities. Women were selling drugs, and some were even involved in prostitution. We partnered with the Salo Wits Foundation, based in Lagos, to address this issue.
Initially, the foundation sent money to provide food for the needy. However, we realized that giving out food wasn’t a sustainable solution. Instead, we decided to teach skills. With funds from the Salo Wits Foundation, we taught church members how to do makeup, produce snacks, repair phones, and other valuable skills. We also provided micro-loans that were interest-free.
One remarkable transformation was a girl involved in prostitution who started producing snacks and eventually left her old life behind. Women who were selling cannabis also turned to legitimate means of earning a living. This reminds me of the story of Nikki Cruz, a former gangster turned Christian, who once said that to take a bone from a dog, you don’t struggle with it—you give the dog a fatter bone, and it will drop the old one.
A More Effective Way The Church Can Address Tithing:
By providing skills and funds, we gave these individuals a “fatter bone.” They no longer needed to rely on illegal activities. We even provided scholarships to children, with the number of scholarships increasing each year. One woman used her scholarship money to start a small business, subsequently paying her child’s school fees and improving her family’s living standards.
The result? The church’s income increased by 300%. This wasn’t achieved by threatening or quarreling over doctrines but by empowering people. When people saw an increase in their income, they gave more to the church, recognizing that their skills, loans, and scholarships came from the church.
In conclusion, teach people how to make money and create wealth, and they will bring wealth to the church. If they see tangible benefits in the church, they will be more committed and supportive.
God bless you.
