Food for thought. Remember when you were young and your mom told you to clean your room? You listened to her voice, heard her words and then went about your way, totally ignoring what she had told you to do. Now if she were one of the “oblivious moms” so prevalent in today’s world, she would have responded to your behavior with by saying, “I thought I told you to clean your room...At least, I thought I did. Maybe I didn’t after all...Never mind, be a good boy/girl and be sure to clean your room. If you do, there will be something good for you.” Of course, you left the room unkempt, knowing that your mom would not only forget that she told you to clean it, but also there would be no consequences to your disobedient actions. Besides you would eventually get the treats promised even without doing what she had asked you to do. The shame is that so many have parents who treat them this way, allowing disobedience to continue without punishment and so many adults believe this is the norm of parenthood and childrearing. It is no wonder that self-centeredness is the prevailing attitude of the day! Ah, but here I am digressing.
Whether or not our moms or dads were “oblivious” in their parenting skills, how many of us fell prey to the same attitude of disobedience when we were young? I wonder if we realized that such a reckless heart motivation was what the Bible calls “rebellion”, especially if the disobedience is not just a one-time occurrence but a systemic problem. When we think of rebellion, it usually is in terms of overthrowing a government, a dire solution to a political dilemma. However, the Lord looks at rebellion differently. He sees it in terms of a negative reation to an established authority, specifically authority He has put in place, whether it relates in terms of people, such as parents, ministers, or governmental officials, or in reference to His Word. So, in either case, God views continuous disobedience to the authorities that He has set up in our lives, not as mere mistakes but as the serious sin of rebellion, equating it with the abomination of witchcraft (rf. I Samuel 15:23).
Therefore, as we pursue this subject further, are there precepts in the Scripture that we consistently violate because we simply don’t like and refuse to follow? For example, even though we know that we are not to take our anger against someone to bed with us according to Ephesians 4:26, we do it time and time again, nursing internal bitterness toward that someone against the very witness that Christ would have us to exhibit! Not only is this disobedience, it has become rebellion because of the repetition involved. When we have taught better and we do worse, knowing all the while what we do is in violation, we sin by rebellion.
A second example is in the area of priorities of life. Genesis 1 and 2 states everything we need to know in reference to how God wants us to set up the way we should live. He should be first (1:1–“In the beginning, God...”) and foremost. This first place is in regards to our relationship with Him, not having to do with our service to or worship of Him. That comes later. Secondly, He wants our family to hold precedence over everything else, with spouse first (1:27) then the children (1:28a). In third place God calls us to support said family for the six days of the week as the equivalent that He “worked” to bring about the creation of the universe (1:28b-30). Fourth and finally, He makes provision for us to worship and serve (2:2-3). Some would immediately criticize this set-up of priorities, stating that work is higher than worship, thus giving people an excuse to pursue their career goals rather than worship the Lord on Sundays. Actually, this is not true if one’s priorities are in this correct order. If one has a right relationship with God, one will have an intense desire to worship Him, thus making provision to worship and serve Him, carving out the necessary time in the work week for the Sabbath rest, time with one’s family and for spending quality time with the Lord. No, the priorities as arranged by God are very correct. When we fail to measure ourselves and abide by them, we are the ones in rebellion and disobedience.
Finally, if the Bible speaks in the harshest terms of those who practice witchcraft, those who cast spells, those who divine magic and practice sorcery or necromancy, calling all of the above an abomination (rf. Deuteronomy 18:9-14), where does the Christian community find the license to participate in the sacred occultic holiday of Halloween? One would have to be completely blind as to not see the imagery of evil associated with this perceived “holy day” that is dedicated to the celebration of all that is dark and wicked in the hearts of men. Yet, year after year, Christians of every stripe continue to involve themselves in this pagan ritual with no thought of how such action violates the mandate of Scripture for us to “come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (rf. II Corinthians 6:17-18) Indeed, the greatest evangelistic impact we could ever make in this case would be by our absence not by our presence even as we chose obedience over rebellion in reference to His Word.
God calls us to hear and obey. To do so will make us inevitably different and distinct from the world around us. This is what He showed us in His Son, Jesus. This is what it means to be one of His disciples. Let us commit to the path of obedience today.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Truths Regarding Tithing
For the last three months we have been reviewing the subject of our finances in the light of God and His Word. Whenever the Scriptures touch our wallets inevitably questions arise because we either do not understand the application of the Scriptures to our present circumstances or because, if they are so applied, it would make us accountable for our lack of obedience to them. In either case, however, we will endeavor to take the most asked question and lay this issue to rest so we can follow through with what God has called His people to do with regards to their finances.
Out of the gate, so to speak, is the question of “net vs. gross” in reference to the tithe. Are we to give to God our 10% on the basis of the total amount of what we make (gross) or just the amount that comes to us in our paychecks (net)? At the outset, we realize a fact that should be very apparent to the most astute Bible student. There was no such tax structure in the Scriptures as what we have in the United States and in most modern Western countries. That is to say, in the time of the Old and New Testaments, there was no such thing as “withholding of taxes” from one’s paycheck. When you engaged in trade of any sort, you took your product to a person or to the market and there sold it. Whatever your product gained for you as a price was your income. The same was true for your work for another individual or business. Thus, from your income which was in your power at the time you were paid, you then paid your taxes. You were also expected at that time to pay your tithes. Earlier we stated that in the Old Testament Law the total percentage of the tithes and taxes was 23 1/3% for the average Israelite. It would have been out of the their income that they would have been expected to have paid these required funds to the Lord (e.g. Leviticus 27:30; Deuteronomy 14:22) since in the Old Testament the government was a Theocracy, God-governed.
Moving forward in time to the present to apply this same principle, we now have a government that is not a Theocracy, but a democratic-republic which requires by law that taxes be withheld from one’s pay and then one is paid the remainder. Therefore, in our system, we only have power over the amount we get in our paycheck. This is the parallel to the income of the olden days of the product sold and the money gained as a result. It is then on the basis of this amount that is within our power to control that we base our tithe.
In the U.S., the average tax rate in 2006 was 20.6% according to The New York Times Business Section, June 1, 2010. As a matter of comparison (from Wikipedia) of European countries and their respective tax rates, it is apparent we in America are very blessed indeed:
Austria (43.4%), Belgium (46.8%), Bulgaria (34.4%), Czeck Republic (36.3%), Denmark (50.0%), France (46.1%), Germany (40.6%), Greece (33.5%), Hungary (37.3%), Italy (42.6%), the Netherlands (39.5%), Sweden (49.7%), Switzerland (30.1%), and the United Kingdom (39.0%).
Or you could live in Kiribati which has an astounding tax rate of 91.6%. Just as a sideline, the reason why our tax rate is lower than the European nations is because we rely on the free enterprise system to run our economy. The lower the taxes, the greater the ability of the people to generate the income necessary to fuel new jobs and creativity for future economic growth. The higher taxes of the European nations support their extensive social programs as part of their overall network and philosophy of general socialism that has been in effect for generations. Each nation requires more funds from its citizens to keep these social programs going, thus the taxes as well as the costs for the programs continue to increase.
In each of these countries, a believer in Christ is required to tithe according to Scripture. However, look at the difference there would be if you applied the gross vs. net argument to, say, a believer in America and one in Kiribati, while keeping in mind the requirement of Scripture to supply the needs of ones family as well (rf. I Timothy 5:8). If both believers made the equivalent of $100 total income, the American would have $20.60 taken out in taxes, thus leaving him with $79.40 in spendable income. If he applied the gross tithe theory, he would give $10.00 to his church, leaving him with $69.40 to supply the remaining needs of his family. If he used the net tithe theory, he would give $7.94, leaving with a remainder of $71.46 to fulfill his other obligations. For the American it doesn’t seem like a big deal.
However, what then does the believer in Kiribati do? His after tax income on a $100 basis would be a mere $8.40. If he used the gross tithe theory, he would be owing God a $1.60 with no ability to provide for his family in reference to the necessities of life. He would have no money at all to fulfill his Biblical obligations. If he applies the net tithe principle, he can faithfully give to the Lord $0.84 and still have a meager $7.56 with which he and his family can subsist. Kind of reminds us of the Widow’s Mite story, doesn’t it?
When we put this comparison in terms of $100 and its applications, it doesn’t appear to make much of a difference. However, when it becomes thousands of dollars a year in income as well as taxes, it then takes on tremendous significance. You see, the tithe as begun originally in Abraham’s day was a matter of giving 10% of what was in his power to give and doing so out of a heart that longed to glorify the Lord. These truths have not changed about the tithe. Though the government may have changed the way that our income is given to us, what comes to us in our paychecks is that which is within our power to give. With that amount, we then determine the 10% as a the starting point of our giving to Him, the tithe. Remember: anything above that amount that we feel compelled to give as a matter of love and adoration to Him is truly a gift.
Just because tithing is a requirement, doesn’t mean it is designed to be a burden. God means for it to be a blessing both to the giver and to His Church. It is the chief means that He has designed to fund the operations of the one vehicle He has ordained to share His love and truth with the world. He wants us to participate in His work in this concrete, visible way so that He can show us in the same way the effects and results of what He is up to when we give obediently. So, never give with a stingy heart, saying “I tithe because I have to”. Rather, have a cheerful, grateful attitude when you tithe, thanking God through your giving as an act of worship. He knows the difference and He blesses/chastises accordingly.
Out of the gate, so to speak, is the question of “net vs. gross” in reference to the tithe. Are we to give to God our 10% on the basis of the total amount of what we make (gross) or just the amount that comes to us in our paychecks (net)? At the outset, we realize a fact that should be very apparent to the most astute Bible student. There was no such tax structure in the Scriptures as what we have in the United States and in most modern Western countries. That is to say, in the time of the Old and New Testaments, there was no such thing as “withholding of taxes” from one’s paycheck. When you engaged in trade of any sort, you took your product to a person or to the market and there sold it. Whatever your product gained for you as a price was your income. The same was true for your work for another individual or business. Thus, from your income which was in your power at the time you were paid, you then paid your taxes. You were also expected at that time to pay your tithes. Earlier we stated that in the Old Testament Law the total percentage of the tithes and taxes was 23 1/3% for the average Israelite. It would have been out of the their income that they would have been expected to have paid these required funds to the Lord (e.g. Leviticus 27:30; Deuteronomy 14:22) since in the Old Testament the government was a Theocracy, God-governed.
Moving forward in time to the present to apply this same principle, we now have a government that is not a Theocracy, but a democratic-republic which requires by law that taxes be withheld from one’s pay and then one is paid the remainder. Therefore, in our system, we only have power over the amount we get in our paycheck. This is the parallel to the income of the olden days of the product sold and the money gained as a result. It is then on the basis of this amount that is within our power to control that we base our tithe.
In the U.S., the average tax rate in 2006 was 20.6% according to The New York Times Business Section, June 1, 2010. As a matter of comparison (from Wikipedia) of European countries and their respective tax rates, it is apparent we in America are very blessed indeed:
Austria (43.4%), Belgium (46.8%), Bulgaria (34.4%), Czeck Republic (36.3%), Denmark (50.0%), France (46.1%), Germany (40.6%), Greece (33.5%), Hungary (37.3%), Italy (42.6%), the Netherlands (39.5%), Sweden (49.7%), Switzerland (30.1%), and the United Kingdom (39.0%).
Or you could live in Kiribati which has an astounding tax rate of 91.6%. Just as a sideline, the reason why our tax rate is lower than the European nations is because we rely on the free enterprise system to run our economy. The lower the taxes, the greater the ability of the people to generate the income necessary to fuel new jobs and creativity for future economic growth. The higher taxes of the European nations support their extensive social programs as part of their overall network and philosophy of general socialism that has been in effect for generations. Each nation requires more funds from its citizens to keep these social programs going, thus the taxes as well as the costs for the programs continue to increase.
In each of these countries, a believer in Christ is required to tithe according to Scripture. However, look at the difference there would be if you applied the gross vs. net argument to, say, a believer in America and one in Kiribati, while keeping in mind the requirement of Scripture to supply the needs of ones family as well (rf. I Timothy 5:8). If both believers made the equivalent of $100 total income, the American would have $20.60 taken out in taxes, thus leaving him with $79.40 in spendable income. If he applied the gross tithe theory, he would give $10.00 to his church, leaving him with $69.40 to supply the remaining needs of his family. If he used the net tithe theory, he would give $7.94, leaving with a remainder of $71.46 to fulfill his other obligations. For the American it doesn’t seem like a big deal.
However, what then does the believer in Kiribati do? His after tax income on a $100 basis would be a mere $8.40. If he used the gross tithe theory, he would be owing God a $1.60 with no ability to provide for his family in reference to the necessities of life. He would have no money at all to fulfill his Biblical obligations. If he applies the net tithe principle, he can faithfully give to the Lord $0.84 and still have a meager $7.56 with which he and his family can subsist. Kind of reminds us of the Widow’s Mite story, doesn’t it?
When we put this comparison in terms of $100 and its applications, it doesn’t appear to make much of a difference. However, when it becomes thousands of dollars a year in income as well as taxes, it then takes on tremendous significance. You see, the tithe as begun originally in Abraham’s day was a matter of giving 10% of what was in his power to give and doing so out of a heart that longed to glorify the Lord. These truths have not changed about the tithe. Though the government may have changed the way that our income is given to us, what comes to us in our paychecks is that which is within our power to give. With that amount, we then determine the 10% as a the starting point of our giving to Him, the tithe. Remember: anything above that amount that we feel compelled to give as a matter of love and adoration to Him is truly a gift.
Just because tithing is a requirement, doesn’t mean it is designed to be a burden. God means for it to be a blessing both to the giver and to His Church. It is the chief means that He has designed to fund the operations of the one vehicle He has ordained to share His love and truth with the world. He wants us to participate in His work in this concrete, visible way so that He can show us in the same way the effects and results of what He is up to when we give obediently. So, never give with a stingy heart, saying “I tithe because I have to”. Rather, have a cheerful, grateful attitude when you tithe, thanking God through your giving as an act of worship. He knows the difference and He blesses/chastises accordingly.
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