Tithe malpractices in a Digital Age

Koot van wyk (DLitt et Phil; ThD)

Visiting Professor

Department of Liberal Education

Kyungpook National University

Sangju Campus

South Korea

Conjoint lecturer of Avondale College

Australia

The Lord asks all of us to bring the full tithe to His house with the intention that it should be used as the salaries for the ministers working for His church and in the old days, the priests working in the temple. In modern times, we have enlarged that meaning of tithe to include all the subsidiary institutions that are church related. If a denomination’s tithe payment is going up, the pastor does not receive a larger salary, but more institutions are created so that more jobs are created who will benefit from monthly tithes being paid. Even though there are churches that have a qualified pastor paid with a temporary status salary or underpaid, the money increase will not be allocated to “upgrade” his status to that of a full-timer but rather, to keep him in that pitiful position and allocate the money to new church-building plans elsewhere and create new full-time salaried jobs with a string of more pitiful temporary status pastors scooped up.

In a digital age, our administrations are probably top-heavy. A big head on a small body. Digital administration almost rule out most of the staff in the Administration? Or is that a pipe dream? Do we still need secretaries in the offices? And, so many of them? Do we need all the department heads at the Conference, Union, and higher? Can online computer programs not run the show and one or two dedicated pastors who are computer gigs, daily work on the website?

Isn’t budget allocation to departments every year a case of also including the question how much money is available for jet-sitting, weekend retreats (prayerful though), travel expenses, hotel stays etc?

This is not the kind of tithe malpractice that I have in mind here.

The kind of malpractice that I have in mind is the case where an elder and his wife pays tithe on his son’s name, because his wayward son or prodical son, is a medical doctor. Since medical doctors are taxed very high by the government for their large incomes, therefore although he provide his father and mother with a regular income of about $3000 per month, the father and mother uses his name to pay their tithe to God in the church. Why? Because they also ask a monthly receipt from the church for the payment and a yearly one, so that they can give it to the son, the wayward prodigal one, who does not attend church, never, but who will then take the yearly receipts and claim that money back from the government for his father and mother.

Well I never.

When I receive money from someone, whether as a gift or as an income, that capital is mine. Tithe properly should be paid by me to God and my name should be on the envelope. I pay to God my money. The tithe is God’s. It is not mine. To use my son to “loan” money to God is a spiritual malpractice. It is “loaned” to God since the government will reroute the money as tax return to the son at the end of the year and then the father and mother get their money “lend to God” back! All apparently legal. But in analysis actually not. Why not?

First, the money was not paid by the wayward and prodigal son, since he does not put his foot ever in church. Secondly, when the money left the son’s hand into the hand of the father, it is no longer the son’s money, but the father’s. Thirdly, when the father gives the money and use his son’s name, he is deceiving both the church and the government as to who gave the money. Then for the son to use the receipt to claim the money back from the government is also deception, since he did not actually paid the money, his father did. The whole point of tithe giving is that we should feel the burden. Rejoice when it hurts to give tithe because God is fully aware of the circumstances.

In essence, the elder and his wife is not giving tithe at all. There names do not appear on the books or records of tithe giving, and not only that, the capitalize on God at the end of the year with the tax-return. All in the name of religion and paying their dues. Or as it seems.

Amos 5:12 “For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are mighty . . . taking ransom”.

Amos 5:22 “For if you offer to Me burnt-offerings and your meal-offerings, I will not accept and the peace offerings of your fattened cattle I will not regard”.

What about the case of millionaires that donate $1 000 000 to the church, get a receipt for the donation and then claim it back from the tax or government at the end of the year? They have not given anything. They have just loaned the money for one year until it would be returned to them.

What about a business that is open on Sabbath and then all the money is donated to God as an offering?

God does not want it. The ten commandments clearly indicate that not even a donkey or animal on our property should work on the Sabbath. It is like winning a lotto and pay tithe on it. God does not want it. He does not need it to start off.

Bringing tithe to God honestly, not with side intentions and kick-backs, is what God is asking from us.

Dear God, there is no way anyone can deceive you. Help these individuals involved in these tithe malpractices to renovate their lives. There are treasurers of the church who knows very well both of Your principles as well as the malpractices but for the sake of the coin, “embrace” the evil practice. Help us all to reform so that You can properly bless our church and the Latter Rain can use the church more effectively. Amen.