Growing up in the South and in the Bible belt, you hear people say there is a church on every street corner. Which is somewhat true and as a young adult, I had visited several different churches but the one thing that always seemed to bother me was not understanding the tithing.
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I knew that churches needed money to pay the bills, keep up with the maintenance and to help in the community but I struggled with the part of paying the preacher. I believed that preachers spread God’s word because that’s what they were called to do, not paid to do. There were preachers riding around in brand new cars and living in beautiful 2-story houses while sending their children to private Christian schools without having another job to pay for it all. It just didn’t sit right with me especially when I seen so many others struggling to even feed their own families.
Some of the churches I visited was really high tech and fancy. I believe in churches growing and making room for more followers but I didn’t believe it should feel like you are watching a show or concert. I didn’t want to watch my preacher via satellite. I wanted him right there in front of me so I could speak to him, shake his hand or experience the word of God moving through him as he preached. It bothered me to think about the money I was giving that could be helping people in need and here the church is spending tons of money on high tech equipment ~ things I didn’t care nothing about.
I also believed that tithing didn’t have to be paid in money. If you had a God-given talent or service that you could give to the church then why couldn’t this be part of your tithing? Reading in the old testament, tithes were paid with crops and animals but now it was all about the money. If you have carpenter skills then why couldn’t you help repair the church and it mean just as much to God as you giving 10% of your paycheck? I tell you, I really struggled back then.
And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him. ~ Mark 12:17 KJV
One day while I was visiting my grandma’s restaurant, her preacher came in to eat. He sits down and I proceeded to talk to him about all the things that bothered me about preachers, churches and tithing. We spent about an hour discussing all my concerns and even though we didn’t see eye to eye on everything, these are the lessons I learned that day:
- It really doesn’t matter what you give or how much you give, you are giving to God and it needs to come from your heart ~ not because you “have to”.
- If it doesn’t feel right or doesn’t make you feel good to give, don’t ~ you should feel inspired by your spirit to give with an open heart.
- What the church does with your offering shouldn’t matter because you are giving from your heart to God ~ the church may receive it but it is your offering to God.
- If the preacher or church does wrong with the money, that is on them not you ~ they will have stand before God and answer for their own sins.
- Go to a church or place of worship that feels right for you personally ~ let God take care of the rest.
Now that I am older, I understand these things so much more and know it has nothing to do with money or people but matters of the heart. The Holy Spirit inside of you, guides you to where you should go, the things you should do and what you should give regardless of your surroundings or circumstances.
I am grateful to be able to share these lessons that I learned so many years ago. This too is another way for me to give another type of offering unto God ~ my testimony. If you have any comments or questions about tithing, leave them in the section below. Sign up on the home page to receive a weekly email from Ssouthernlifestlye and as always have a blessed day!
