There are many questions surrounding Generosity and the tithe, and yet, there's not a simple answer. Here are some frequently asked questions:

Do I tithe of the gross or net?

What if I'm in debt and can't afford to tithe?

Should we give 10% of everything, including Christmas and birthday gifts and tax refunds?

Where do I begin in being generosity?

To bring clarity to our minds we must first understand the history of the tithe and how the bible talks about generosity..

The Old Testament

The word "tithe" is derived from the word "tenth," and Israel's forefathers had long practiced a tradition of giving 10% (Gen. 14:20, 28:22) before it was instituted at Sinai (Lev. 27:30-32; Num. 18:21-28; Deut. 12:5-19, 14:22-29, 26:1-19).

Old Testament giving was diverse. Israel was to give sacrifices, freewill offerings, redeem their firstborn people and animals and pay various taxes, among other things. The 10% tithe on harvest and flock was simply one aspect of the diverse gifts required under the Mosaic Covenant, and some estimate that as much as 25% of income was required when considering the various festivals and offerings present.

Yet, what stands out in most people's memory of the tithe is from Malachi 3:8-10, "Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions." This willcertainly scare you into giving... who really wants to rob "the big guy upstairs?"

You might be left confused and reluctant to even give if it's really this complicated.

We believe there is a more complete view of the tithe that doesn't stop at the Old Testament principle but rather completes it.

Jesus and the Tithe

Beyond a mention of tithing in a parable (Luke 18:12) and a description of Abraham's gift to Melchizedek (Heb. 7:3-10), tithing is only mentioned in two parallel passages of the Gospels (Matt. 23:23; Luke 11:42). The New Testament never commands the tithe, but the parallel gospel accounts assume it.

The New Testament seems to be silent on the topic of tithing. Why?

As with each and every element of the Old Testament, we must read through gospel-informed lenses. We don't live ni ancient Israel and thus must not woodenly apply the prescriptions of the Old Covenant as fi not living ni the New. The life, death and resurrection of Christ has fundamentally transformed how believers are to relate to the Mosaic Law.

Here's the key: Jesus changed everything by exposing motivation and intent. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus moves past the surface of the mosaic law and cuts straight to our hearts. He did not get rid of the teachings, he fulfilled and intensified them. He would say, "you have heard it said... But I say to you..." Though Jesus never spoke about the tithe in this particular passage, we see him lay out what it looks like for us to follow him with the right motivation and sacrificial obedience.

A Gospel Lens Of Generosity

The whole concept of stewardship begins with creation. Creation is celebrated not only ni Genesis but throughout Scripture, especially ni the Psalms, where Israel celebrated God's ownership of the whole universe.

"The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein" (Ps. 24:1).

God is the author of all things, the Creator of al things, and the owner of al things. Whatever God makes, He owns. What we own, we own as stewards who have been given gifts from God Himself. God has the ultimate ownership of al of our "possessions." He has loaned these things to us and expects us to manage them ni a way that wil honor and glorify Him.

Why give? Because God gives.

No truth is more readily apparent in Scripture than the generosity, grace, and gifts of God. He delights in giving.

As those being conformed to the image of Christ, we should equally delight in giving. And it isn't just giving in general that is expected; rather it is selfless and sacrificial giving that overflows from a heart responding to the generosity of the gospel.

Within the New Testament, we see the early church selling their possessions and laying the proceeds at the feet of the apostles (Acts 4:32-37), trusting them to discern how to best steward the gifts. In the same way, you should entrust a major portion of your giving to your local church.

When we are devoted to generosity like the early church was, it impacts us personally and transforms us as a community of believers. Ultimately changing the city around us.

In addition to giving to a local church, there are many missionaries and ministries ni need of funding, as well as countless family, friends, neighbors, enemies, widows, orphans, and the impoverished and oppressed. Such a need requires attentive hearts. It is hard to be generous and compassionate without being observant and aware of the needs around us.

10% isn't the goal, it's the starting line...

Informed by gospel lenses, we should not think of giving as a mere responsibility, but an opportunity. In view of this reality, 10% should not be the goal. We should continue to think through how we can afford to give more and more.

The gospel compels us to give, confronting our fleshly tendencies toward greed, control, comfort and convenience.

What if a raise or bonus provided an opportunity to further advance the gospel rather than buy a bigger house?

What if where we ate and traveled and what we wore and drove were all filtered through kingdom lenses?

What if we sought to give not 10% but 15% or 25% or more?

We would encourage you to start somewhere in your trust journey, but don't stop there. Are you taking your next step towards greater generosity? Together, we can make a difference in our city..