A CLOSER LOOK AT TITHING
EXPOSING THE ERRORS
By: Victor T. Stephens
"People often claim to hunger for truth, but seldom like the taste when it's served up."
~ George R.R. Martin
WAS TITHING COMMANDED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT? (continued)
The Widow's Offering
Many people who have attended a church facility for any reasonable amount of time are almost certainly familiar with the lesson of the widow's mite. Articulating my point of view to some leaders in the church about tithing generally brings about the story of the widow who gave two small coins to the temple treasury.
Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood." (Mark 12:41-44)
This story is a convenient passage referenced many times by leaders in the church to address generosity. Their goal is to induce guilt for not tithing and not giving sacrificial offerings. The suggestion is since this poor widow had enough faith to sacrifice all she had to the temple, then surely Christians should have enough to give at least ten percent of their monetary incomes to the church. Furthermore, some church leaders use this account to propose that congregants sacrifice vast amounts of their financial resources to meet specific and urgent ministry goals.
Contrary to their point of view, the story of the widow’s offering does not represent the manner of sacrificial giving that gratifies God. Reading the passage immediately preceding this account brings a greater understanding of its meaning. That said, let us take a look at Mark 12:38-40:
Then He said to them in His teaching, "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation." (Mark 12:38-40)
Here, Jesus expresses condemnation of the hypocritical and wicked spiritual leaders of His day. He was displeased on account that the teachers of the law were seeking the praise of men while concurrently exploiting widows. By definition, exploitation is not merely overt; it can also be subtle using clever manipulation for personal gain.
In this account, Christ is teaching his disciples that the scribes are camouflaging their insatiability for money, and self-importance under the guise of authentic devotion to God. Notice Jesus' warning to take heed of the scribes
"who devour widows' houses" corresponds to His usage of a specific widow in this story.
Under the pretense of godliness, the scribes devoured widows’ houses, which indicates that they stole money from them using deceptive schemes. These widows were effectually brainwashed into believing that it was essential to give their assets to the temple. Perhaps they were taught that blessings could be bought, or it was their duty to give a minimum percentage, or money could be used to purchase their salvation, or as a way to bring relief from their poverty. Whatever the case may be, these widows were defrauded by spiritual charlatans who harbored selfish ambitions.
In Mark 12:41-44, this particular poor widow contributed more than everyone else because she donated all that she had. Rather than using her money to buy food and other essential needs, she gave all her funds to corrupt spiritual leaders. Her heart was in the right place; however, she did not need to provide her entire funds to the temple treasury to prove her dedication to God. Therefore, Jesus wasn’t praising her. He expressed to His disciples that this widow was a casualty of corrupt spiritual leaders rather than her being an example of sacrificial giving.
There is a modern-day application to this narrative. Although God is speaking to the spiritual leaders of His day, we can apply the same unethical implications to church leaders today. False teachers in the church use the same hideous tactics as the scribes of Jesus' day. In their quest for riches, these leaders have instituted an unbiblical monetary tithing system and a disingenuous sacrificial offering scheme to embezzle money from well-meaning believers. Something is seriously wrong with a spiritual organization that takes the remaining funds of the poor, defenseless, and desperate. It is the height of antipathy.
Many false teachers refer to the account of the widow's offering to preach, "Give until it hurts." Some, particularly those of the Word-Faith camp, call this seed-faith theology --- "Give me your money, and God will multiply it back to you at 100-fold." The most vulnerable to this false theology are those who feel hopeless; or those who are greedy for money.
Sadly, misplaced loyalty has blinded numerous "Christians" to what false teachers have determined for themselves. Whatever they want is equated to what God desires for them. They have little or no concern that some believers may be unable to pay their mortgages, rent, and other monthly bills. Using enticing speech, they have deceived some Christians into sacrificing their entire bank accounts to fund a building and fund their pockets with cash, checks, and money orders. For more convenient robbery, they prompt their trusting supporters not to overlook the use of their credit cards and other sophisticated techniques to pay tithes and sacrificial offerings. To add insult to injury, in some cases, the prey reward the wolves when they exhaust additional funds for "Pastor's Appreciation Day!"
During the early church period, Paul taught equality and warned the Church to watch out for those who love money.
"For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack --- that there may be equality." (2 Cor. 8:13-14)
"For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ."
(2 Cor. 2:17)
It is not God’s will for anyone to sacrifice their entire living for a pastor or church facility. There is not one place in Scripture to support such an idea. On the contrary, the opposite is true.
True Christian leaders should be honored and respected. Furthermore, they have a right to receive financial support. Moreover, we should help support the physical building and needed ministries where we receive instruction in the Word of God. However, a professing pastor should never use scripture-twisting tactics to deceive believers into giving. Godly and unbiased men of integrity do not engage in such schemes.
Jesus wants us to be generous givers, but the Lord takes issue with those who misuse and abuse honest and heartfelt believers. Thus, false teachers should take heed, for Christ stated that these men "will receive greater condemnation."
Next: The Prayer of a Pharisee
