May 19, 2006

Dear Sir,

Please allow me a small measure of space in your publication to respond to the ad on page 5 of the May 18, 2006 edition, entitled ?Do You Tithe?? The ad is certainly provocative ? which is clearly the intention ? and thus it is, in my opinion, commendable.

The sentiment expressed in the first scripture quoted ? that the people of the city of Berea were ?more noble? than those of the neighbouring city of Thessalonica, because of their willingness to entertain ideas that they?d not previously heard and then put those ideas to the test (Acts 17:11) ? is an expression that sadly could not be applied to most people of Bermuda, despite our spiritual claims.

When it comes to spiritual matters (and in truth, many others as well), we are by and large not a thinking, reasoning people, but are only too happy to follow the crowd, or justify our ?personal? faith with the rationale of ?Mama says? or ?Granny did?. Any attempt to prod the masses from intellectual and spiritual slumber must be applauded.

However, zeal does not necessarily equate to truth. The bold claim of the antagonist ? that tithing in the bible refers only to food and never to money ? simply isn?t true. While that is the primary import of the concept of tithing, Deuteronomy 14:22 - 28 shows that tithes could be money in some circumstances. Verse 25 is clear ? the tithe could be taken as money and laid out for the benevolent purpose at hand. (Notice that this passage is bracketed by two of our friend?s cited verses ? a clearer argument for study of context could hardly be made.) Bear in mind that the economy of the day was not denoted by paper or coins such as we use now ? wealth was determined by produce and livestock. Job, a man called the greatest (richest) man in the east, was rich in livestock, not ?money? (Job 1:3). Thus, tithing of the increase of the field does find a parallel in giving of ?money? today.

While I do not pretend to know the mind of the individual who has placed this ad, I do agree with what I imagine is his or her ultimate thought. Tithing is not required by the New Testament ? the law of the Old Testament having been abolished and nailed to the cross, according to Ephesians 2:15 and Col. 2:14. There is not a word of command or example for tithing in the New Testament. Any references to that word or its derivatives merely point back to the old system, which is done away in Christ Jesus.

Some would undoubtedly accuse me of not believing in the Old Testament. That accusation would be untrue, I believe in every word of it. However, I recognise that it was written for learning (Romans 15:4). It is not for spiritual governance in the present day. The current rule of faith in all matters spiritual must be the word of Christ (Col. 3:16,17). Again, some will think me miserly, attempting to avoid a spiritual responsibility of giving. Again, not so. The giving that I practice and encourage is in accordance with the New Testament teaching on the matter ? namely, on the first day of every week, I, as an individual, give for the furtherance of God?s cause on earth, as he has prospered me, cheerfully, liberally, as I have made up my mind to do. (1 Cor. 16: 1-2, 2 Cor. 9: 6-7). I recognise that I am no longer under the Old Testament, but ?a better covenant, which was built upon better promises? ? thus my giving tends to be slightly more than one tenth of my increase.

In closing, I would suggest to the person who took out the ad that people are not interested in being berated with scriptures without reasoned thought and argumentation. ?A text out of context is a pretext?. You will win very few converts by bludgeoning people ? a ?Come, let us reason together? approach tends to prevail.