To Tithe or Not To Tithe

America’s churches are suffering from consistent and persistent financial shortfalls. Our churches are cutting back programs, staff, and salaries. They are trying to find ways to reduce expenses. Many are facing issues with keeping the lights on and the air/heat on. Some are facing the prospect of losing their facilities altogether.

Many wonder why there has been a steady decrease in donations and why less people are volunteering or getting more personally involved. The answer is complicated and multi-faceted. I can only answer what I’ve seen personally in my own church and viewed online with other churches.

Some of the nation's church members don’t feel that their churches care about them as individuals. They don’t believe there’s needed guidance in their day to day concerns. Members have become very uncomfortable with regards to the question about money and tithes. The word tithe in some churches can’t even be used in a sermon or people will walk out. They don’t like to be reminded that it’s a Scriptural principle. Especially in today’s hard economic times.

By not raising the subject of Scriptural tithing the ministers are shortchanging their congregation by not stating what’s plain in the Word of God but they are also allowing the financial state of the church to deteriorate to the point that programs and services have to be cut, in some cases, even before the membership realizes it's going to happen.

Churches are going to have to challenge and encourage their congregations to think differently about work, money, volunteering and giving.

In my church there are only a few who are offended or made uncomfortable when our minister mentions tithing. He speaks boldly and concretely about matters of faith and tithing. He doesn’t hesitate to tell you it’s a Scriptural process that also leads to blessing.

That doesn’t mean that our church hasn’t suffered some financial hardships recently. Our membership is down, people are not attending as much as they used to and they are not giving as much as they used to. Many have lost jobs, savings, stock market investments, or they have had children who’ve lost jobs and returned home. Money is tight, that’s for sure, but it’s not an excuse to stop tithing.

We are fortunate enough to have 3 buildings on our church property. Due to the loss of tithes the church members have voted to close one of those buildings. Our minister will be working from home now instead of having an office at the church. Salaries may have to be cut. Programs may have to be cut. But we are all still committed to our church and doing all we can to keep it going.

We are just like so many other churches in our nation. You wouldn’t notice that if you watch the multi-millionaire televangelists but you would if you drove through many towns and cities in our nation. If you spoke to church members about what’s going on in their own churches and communities.

I’m hopeful that the situation will improve but I fear that it will get worse before it gets better. I encourage all church members to continue in the faith, continue tithing, continue volunteering and continue serving the Lord.