[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n my introduction I would like to request the readers not to misunderstand the topic that I am going to share. It is as per my understanding in reference to its literary meaning and in context to the present culture in the church. Many scholars, intellectuals and educated people may also in the line/point of my view, but many of us scared to speak the truth thinking that other believers will think of me as an antichrist because we especially Nagas are very much societal, in other words we can say that we are so minded thinking that my community will think of me negatively if I write like this or like that. My intention is to let the people know the real literary meaning by not changing one’s faith.There is a great difference between Tithe, Offering and Giving. As per the literary meaning...Tithe is a compulsory payment whereas Offering and Giving are offering and giving according to our inner heart speaks. Then readers may like to know what is payment and what is giving. Let me come to the point, payment means a compulsory bill/money that you are to pay it mandatorily because certain percentage/amount has been fixed whereas Giving is from your inner-speaking with the ability that you have. We don’t give what we don’t have, but we have to pay our mandatory tax by any means, we cannot escape from tax. It is true that Tithe is as good as a tax. When a bill for water, electricity etc comes, it does not ask the consumer to give, but the bill asked to pay it on or before the due date, if not late fine/penalty is imposed. Same as, the Government asks you to pay your income tax/property tax/professional tax. Government does not use the word give your tax, but used the word pay your tax. My inner point of writing this topic is that many preachers preach wrongly combining together this Tithe and Giving to GIVING, preaching give...give….give as if he is generating an income from Tithe. Yes money is required in running the church, but not in this way. As I have said that these two are of different usage. Tithe is an Old Testament concept whereas Giving is a New Testament concept. I don’t meant to say that, we should not pay Tithe. Jesus said in Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42 “you should tithe/it is good to tithing”. Yes, it is good to tithe because we are doing what God wants us to do. Other than this (Tithe) found in the New Testament the rest is about Giving and Offering which is purely a Giving and an offering from the inner heart depending upon one’s ability to give or to offer. Giving has no connection with Tithe at all. Giving is done when our inner heart speaks basing on your possession that you have in your hand. What we find in the Bible about Giving in Romans 12:8; Ephesians 4:28; Luke 11:13; Acts 20:35; 2 Corinthians 9:7 are all purely about giving. The widow’s offering found in Luke 21:1-4 is not related to Tithe at all, but some preachers preached give your Tithe as the widow gives. This is very very wrong.
According to the Bible, Giving by your left hand should not be known to your right hand. But in case of Tithe we can even maintain a register showing the total income of every church member and made mandatory to give 10 percent which we called it a Tithe. It has happened in one church that, church Deacons used to collect Tithe from the defaulters (who are not paying Tithe) carrying a register with them containing the list of -names of who are paid and who are not paid, it is right, but not proper at this stage. But in near future a time will come to do like that.
Tithe cannot be made a topic as sermon/message because it is not a gospel. Sermon in the church should be a gospel which nourishes the faith of a believer, but talking and teaching about Tithe in the church every time during worshipping spoils the atmosphere of worship and it directly or indirectly hurts the sentiment of a believer. One of my friends who is a Cathecist in Catholic denomination once said, “we never preach about Tithe in the church, because it is not a gospel”. It is up to the believers to pay or not and even not spiritual asking to pay Tithe. I am not particularised a church, I am just sharing in general as I have seen and observed in many of the Baptist churches wrongly taught about Giving with Tithe. Tithe cannot be a sermon at all. Yes, as I have stated earlier members can be reminded for not paying Tithe but at this present stage it may not suit being a religious matters. But in one way we can stick to it because Tithe is an Old Testament concept relating to law which binds every member that every believer is to pay Tithe lawfully. It may not so happened in many churches. Many Christians used to say openly that, “Today’s Christians has become a Tithe-Christians”. Tithe has become a main role in the life of a Christian. Some people said that his/her becoming a Christian is not because of Tithe but because of believing Christ as his/her personal saviour. I think that’s right. Yes, money may be necessary in running the church but the priority is one’s faith. Then some people may plead/argue if you have faith why don’t you want to pay your Tithe. I have said earlier that, Tithe is a tax whether you have faith in Christ or not you have to pay by any means because it is a law. But if we have faith in Christ everything will come whatever we need in the form of giving, offering, donation etc. My point is very clear to all that Tithe is not the priority. And I don’t mean to stop Tithe. What is the intention of a believer attending church, is his/her intention to be hurt or insulted for not paying Tithe? Very very wrong. Instead we should preach how do give to the poor, to the needy, to the shelterless, to the sick, etc as a Christian because Jesus taught us to give and help one another. Tithe cannot be a part of sermon at all. Leave it to one’s understanding. Instead of preaching about good response in Tithing, it’s better to maintain a register and go on reminding naming the defaulters openly so that response will be much better. I think I have gone too much. I am not against my religion, I am also a Christian by birth since I was born in a Christian family, but the way religious preachers preach is intolerable, it always hurts me, I cannot have a peaceful worship. Now, I have decided myself to worship in the church alone and perform my meditation alone without any disturbances or else stay at home and do my meditation peacefully. I welcome feedback from all readers so that many believers come to know the reality and continue their faith in Christ through better feedbacks coming one after another.
May God bless all you all the readers.
S Moses
