The Barna Group just released some new statistics on tithing and donations for 2007. – here. Interestingly enough George Barna takes a stand against tithing as a legitimate practice in the New Testament Church. This is all kind of exciting to me, because i’m in the middle of reading the book, “Pagan Christianity” by Frank Viola and George Barna. I am about two-thirds of the way through and i can’t seem to put the book down. I will write a post about that when i’m finished it, but i just mentioned it because i had just finished up the chapter on “tithing”. Ironic. . . i guess.
I just want to highlight some things that were said:
“Whether they believe in the principle of tithing or not, few Americans give away that much money.”
I would like to point out that greed is not biased to non-tithers. I’ve heard many a times that Tithing is an antidote for greed. The reason why tithing does not over come greed is because tithing is not the master of greed. A pure heart, that is undefiled and led by the Spirit of God is the master of greed. Tithing has no power over sin, but the Spirit does. This is confirmed because although Israel had tithing completely spelled out for them, they still had to overcome their greedy hearts. Also regardless of whether our giving is plainly spelled out for us through tithing or is an unpredictable factor through spirit-led giving, we still have to listen and obey. In other words, just because how much we should give is written in black and white compared to Spirit led giving, which is not; we still have to put down our selfishness and obey one or the other.
“Strangely, tithing is a Jewish practice, not a Christian principle espoused in the New Testament. The idea of a tithe – which literally means one-tenth or the tenth part – originated as the tax that Israelites paid from the produce of the land to support the priestly tribe (the Levites), to fund Jewish religious festivals, and to help the poor. The ministry of Jesus Christ, however, brought an end to adherence to many of the ceremonial codes that were fundamental to the Jewish faith. Tithing was such a casualty. Since the first-century, Christians have believed in generous giving, but have not been under any obligation to contribute a specific percentage of their income.”
Barna also mentions the 3 functions of the tithe. Support the Levites, fund Jewish religious festivals, and to help the poor. At this point i see the Church doing a good job of fulfilling one out of three of those tasks. That’s if you want to equate support of the levites with support of those who are ministering. If we were busy trying to build God’s kingdom instead of our own kingdom, i think we would be doing a much better job with fulfilling the other functions of the tithe (not that i want the tithe and all it’s purposes incorporated into the Church). Just hypothetically speaking.
During the first five years of the decade, an average of 84 cents out of every dollar donated by born again adults went to churches. In the past three years, though, the proportion has declined to just 76 cents out of every donated dollar.
I find this statistic very, very interesting indeed. This is saying that for the first five years since 2000 that of all the donations given, 84% of them were given to Church organizations, but since the past three years, only 76% of the total donations had been given to Church organizations. So people have been giving 8% less to their churches and giving it to some other organization. I don’t know, to me, that is a big jump. Think about it this way, imagine if 8 out of 100 people stopped giving the money to their church and instead gave it to the Red Cross. Hmmm, very interesting. Maybe a little wake up call for our greedy Church budgets. You can read more about my thoughts on the house church movement and its effect on Church budgets
“If this transition in the perceptions and giving behavior of born again adults continues to accelerate, the service functions of conventional churches will be redefined within the next eight to ten years, and conventional churches will have to adopt new ways of assisting people in need.”
That was a part of Barna’s interpretation of what the statistics are telling him. And i agree.
What’s your thoughts on the new tithing statistics and trends? Do you think Barna is on target with his analysis? Do you think this blog is on target?
Related Posts
- Pagan Christianity by Frank Viola & George Barna
- Why is Giving Down?
- A Spirit-led Response to Tithing
- House Church Attendance Puts the Pressure on Conventional Churches and Its Finances
Tags: barna, church, giving, statistics, stewardship, tithing
Loading ...
Reminds me of Jesus and the rich young ruler. Your money means absolutely nothing to me. We are not judged according to what we have or don’t have.Its a matter of stewardship, the more we have the more we will have to give account for. I personally attend a Church that “teaches the Bible”. The Pastor of our church is bi-vocational pastor (he has a full time job and a full time ministry serving the Lord). As a matter of fact he chooses not to know what people give.
His view is that our giving is between us and God. He looks at people not based on what they give or don’t give but on the fact that they need Jesus and they need to be obedient to His Word.
We need to understand what 2 Cor. chapter 13 teaches and how it is the heartbeat of God. I give according to my personal convictions and my understanding of the Bible.
I am about fulfilling the great commission found in Matt. 28. This is what is important to me. Blessings
Billy you’re money you do what you want, however you’re wrong and as a matter of fact when the hard times come and believe me they are, then we’ll see what money can do? Absolutely nothing at all..Maybe you should consider upping you medication or seeking counselling cause you seem to be so consumed with this Tithing charity thing? By the way are you a Catholic? Just wondering..”Repent and be baptised” but in your case “Pay pennence and be baptised”, another thing is maybe you’re in the Mafia? Pay your way huh? you make me laugh Billy, Frequency of application = Relative Strength..If you hear this Tithing business so often it become quiet strong, so keeping handing it over SUCKER and if you got some left over how bout you send me some too.
No I am just a Bible reading, God trusting and truth embracing Christian!!! I would hate to belong to a body of believers that you belong to because I’m sure they are in dire need, your sure not doing your part. You love money and lets just face it your a tight wad.
Hi,
Jesus warnned his disciple and his followers about the love of money but pastors who run theses churches are teaching christians that its not a problem if christians focus on trying to be rich. They normally teach and defend tithing with all the power that controls the church.
Christians can not afford to just blindly follow any teaching by their pastors and not check the bible if its true. Please consider the apostles in the bible, they gave all to spread the gospel.
All of them left their jobs,business and families to spread the gospel. Not one of them lived in luxury or demanded to be given 10% gross of their followers income or they will be cursed.
Do not be affraid of your so called pastors,he is just another christian. Think about this,if a christian brother or sister wants to borrow some money from you they will ask you and they will tell you when they will repay your money. You know that your christian friend needs the money and you decide to lend them the money because you want to help them plus you trust this person. Now you have a pastors (christian) who needs some money to pay for his bills, he goes and find scriptures like Malachi 3:10,Mathew 23:23,but does not want to quote Deteuronomy 14:22-29 because it says that we eat the tithe.So he decides to preach about tithing to all these christians that he leads (church) that tithe Or 10% percent of their gross income belongs to God (him) and christians need to put God first (his bills,holiday,car,luxury house,jewllery,plane and his office and staff first)
Please if the bible teaches about self denial can anyone tell me why JESUS said WE CANT BOTH SERVE GOD AND MONEY. Here is a scripture that will open your eyes (Holy Spirit wrote it)…….. 1 Timothy 6:4-6 AMP…………
If you still dont get it then you need deliverance from the lies that satan is selling to believers
Have a peaceful day
all that to say what? your a cheapskate?
Again Joel you have delivered the truth and may God bless you and your family with real wealth which is coming when we meet with him, absolutely spot on. I have read the scripture you posted many times over and over and my friend I can assure you that these people are coming out of a different spirit, you’re right that who ever does not get this is in need of being delivered from that corrupt way of thinking. I am really over it Joel that these people are poisioning others with their Greed Doctrine, peace be to be brother and again I feel encouraged with your words, I have no doubt that the Lord is with us on this, bless you.
wow two people needing deliverance from mammon. a real tag team of ignorance.
Bill it’s no drama you were taken down very swiftly by Joels comments my friend you know nothing and you will be standing accountable for your twisted Doctrine, may God have mercy on you.
I listen to God through His Word, not Sam the want to be answer man!!!
Help me to understand how the Church is to be supported? I really don’t understand what you are trying to prove? Do we give to God or not? What doctrine are you talking about? Do I need Gods mercy because I am a cheerful giver? and because I want to bring glory to God in all that I do? Wow, am I dealing with born again believers or selfish judging manipulators?
Thank you Sam,
Be encouraged do not give up. Jesus said many will come to him and say did we not perform miracles and raised the dead in your name we cast out demons.
Jesus said in Mathew 7:21, I quote ” Not everyone that said to me Lord,Lord will enter the kingdom of Heaven” and verse 22 talks about annointed pastors,evangelist,prophets and teachers in other words christians. Its very scary if you ask me.
May Gods Grace Rest on you.
I’m going to cry, Help me to teach about the doctrine of “I dont want to give because I love money too much”.
Billy, I think its not about not wanting to give money but about being manipulated and lied to by pastors who covets christians money. Thou shall not covet thy neighbours 10% of his income, wife,house,job,savings etc..
Please understand that I see a higher responsibility in the Word to us as believers in every area of our life. The bible teaches us to be doers of the word, it also teaches us to be cheerful givers. The bible is also real clear that we will reap what we sow. How can we reap if nothing is sown? That is talking about in every area of our life. Giving is a small part of living Christ like. Please don’t confuse what the message here is. ” the Bible is clear that we are to obey God in every area of his word”, If that makes me bad or manipulative than I guess Jesus was too according to you!
Bill you seem to be getting quiet angry, do you also practice “Do not let the Sun go down”, I pray that you come to know the Lord in a clearer way, hopefully the scales will be removed from your eyes so that you can see. Joel is absolutely correct in what Jesus preached on the Mount regarding…in those days they will come to me and say but Lord Lord etc… Notice something really interesting here in this passage, these Christians practiced all the gifts? A lot of Christian Churches (Main-line) do not and are careful to use these gifts, however what I am getting at is the fact that these so called Spirit Filled Christians whom I would presume are Tithers as well Jesus tells them to get away from him cause he does not know them??? I am not adding in the Tithing to this passage but most of these new age Churches who practice Tongues, Prophesies and so on also practice Tithing? So I would say that these Super Sperios that we call them maybe very well be whom Jesus was talking about??? What do you think Billy the Kid.
Hi,
Billy is not angry he just been in a bad mood for a long time and wants to defend his pastors doctrine plus material possesions. I thought about this tithing doctrine as
” Love thy neighbour as yourself espeacially his money”
Its so sad to see christians being deceived and are so proud that they hold on to their creedy pastors false teaching for the hope of being rich one day.
Billy if you are paying your tithe to stop God from cursing you, how much does your pastor charge for healing, favour, peace,and going to Heaven ?…. lol
For the first 100 callers will get a group discount of $99.95 with a 1 month refund guarantee and eftpos, credit card facility is available .Ring now or you will miss out few tickets for SUCKERS LEFT!!!
I think that we are losing something in translation. I serve the Lord with all my Heart, all my soul, all my mind and all my strength. If that makes me a super hero than thats fine. I only hope to convey that we are responsible to God for all our actions. What I give to the Lord is between my Him. I realize that everything I have is His and that I am merely a Stuart, hopefully a good one. Is the bible new age to you? Is acts chapter 2 new age? I would be very careful about what you Judge. If you want to refute my convictions thats fine but dont speak against the word of God. God will not be mocked, we will reap what we sow, I am pointing more fingers at myself but dont make this an arena of mockery.
don’t judge others for wanting to give all that they have to serve the Lord.
Hahahahaha Joel that was so funny man, we were laughing so hard…but you know it’s so true these guys are so committed to these Cults and would do anything to gain acceptance by those Morons who think nothing of the fact that God is an all seeing and hearing God…I just recently went to a service where the groupies all sit up the very front and everything the Pastors says they come back with “WOW” and this “WOW” never stops until the preaching stops, it made me sick and laugh at the same time cause whilst they were WOWING the Pastor said something that didn’t deserve the WOW and they just looked so Stupid. Joel I was watching something on the TV Evangelists in America like the Creflo Dollar,Benny Hinn,Kenneth Copeland and the likes, did you know that Creflo is apparently worth 900 Million Dollars US?? Kenneth Copeland apparently gave Creflo $1000000 as a gift?Poor guy must be starving….And now Billy sits there in judgement because we won’t be taken for a ride by freaks like this, you gotta be joking Bill! My attitude is not that I want to hold onto my money it’s the fact that I have a Family to support (3 Children), pay bills and generally have very little left??You don’t know me Bill and certainly don’t understand what I give and to whom, so I will never ever give to one of these freaks that you support because they are of the flesh and they are no different to criminals.The bible is clear as Brother Joel has passed onto you a scripture 1 Timothy 6:4-6 AMP in which says it all about what we are discussing. You persist to support another type of Scripture in which has been manipulated with clever Psychology and convincing at that, that is to the Flesh of course. You ever heard that song bill it reminds me of you…Billy don’t be a hero, Don’t be a fool with your life lol.
I sense a lot of anger here. I read and follow a bible that teaches us to love one another. As brothers in Christ we are to encourage one another not to judge. Maybe I too have fallen into a wrong led motive to try to prove something that I believe in, and for that I apologize. My intention is to merely share my convictions, I dont want this to be a public spectacle that would lead to a misrepresentation of the Gospel. I really do not care about what you do weather you give or not, that should be between you and God. I choose, and I repeat I choose to honor God in all I do, if my convictions lead me to giving all that I have to God why should that bother you? I am not trying to get anybody to follow my convictions I am only sharing them. Giving of myself is so much more important than anything else I give! Hopefully you will understand that I love the Lord and His sheep. May God bless you richly.
Sam, you forgot one thing there are lots of super heros in the comic pretend world we have Super man,Spider man,Con man and lest not forget our hero Billy the Tithing Man.
Check out what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 8:12 NLT,AMP about giving to the church. Before he was saved he used to kill christians because of the Mosiac Law that Billy wants to keep
Have a good weekend
Maybe we can come to to agreements here. I definitely do not want to continue in division. If you are a brother in Christ and I will assume you are, then we need not continue to publicly bash one another. I again am sorry and ask forgiveness for acting in an un Christlike manner. we can agree to disagree. I am a Born again believer whose name is written in the Lambs book of life. I will have to answer to God someday for all that I do, all that I say and all that I think. For the record, what you give is between you and the Lord period. If i choose to give to the Lord (not any specific number) you should be glad for me.
If not giving settles well with you than so be it, I will be glad for you. Lets represent Christ to the world and continue to keep Him first. May God continue to bless you richly!!!
Hi Billy, I forgive and god Bless you and your family, I don’t think that there’s any harm in us talking and discussing this issue with Tithing. I think when it comes to Jesus Christ is Lord we would all agree as one and the rest of it well we’ll have to agree to disagree or continue discussion, no harm felt Billy and at the end of the day as it says in Acts we are all called on to a ministry of reconciliation, God Bless you.
Hi, Read (1 Timothy 6:5 NLT) that will explain everything please do not treat Apostle Pauls teaching with contempt. The Holy Spirit wrote those letters using Paul and put it in the bible for us.
Grace and Peace to you all
Hi Joel,
What can I say you are reinforcing everything I have read and confirming to me that where I am is correct with what we have been discussing, thankyou for that and I appreciate the fact that you are quoting scripture as it is and it’s clear regarding the question about riches in this life. As a matter of fact if people that are believers want more in the way of wants then go out and work harder to earn more? lets not give the 10% and expect to a tax return back? i think that’s not giving at all that’s actually gambling and in fact I have witnessed so many people come and go because it all seems to much or a rort, they come into the congregation and the minutes these prosperity follows speak up the new people simply leave with a bad attitude towards Church, the one’s that remain think that this is another good opportunity to maybe cash in because of all the crappy stories…It’s like the old approach ..”Come to Jesus and he will make your live wonderful” blah blah blah..Jesus said to die to ourselves daily and pick up our cross daily..It’s not about us and our flash homes,cars and other materialistic wants and likes? So why promote these fleshy things, I can tell you why because IT APPEALS TO THE FLESH AND THIS IS WHAT THE WORLD LIKES, Why wouldn’t Satan inject this way of thinking?? Read the Bible people and Joel thankyou so much for your Honesty and speaking the truth, God bless you brother, we need more preachers and teachers like you. In this life we do need cash and that we earn by working for it, I for refuse to hand it over to a Prosperity Preacher who as far as i’m concerned picks out scripture to fool the Gullible, The get up and preach a watered down message that appeals to the flesh most of all and then want to be called and seen as a success, most of the time these Pastors don’t even have the time for most of the people in their congregation because they’re to busy trying to scheme another money making machine.
Thank you Sam,
If you live in Sydney, I just found a church near Penrith they do not ask for tithes and they inform their followers that tithing was only for the Jews in the old covenant. The church is called “The Church of the Rock Sydney”they have a website I went for the first time yesterday.
I highly recomend this church to anyone looking for a church in Sydney. The pastor and the leaders truly fear God and the teaching is very powerful.
I hope to see you there
Galatians 5:4
“You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace”.
Acts 13:39 “And through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things from which you could not be freed through the law of Moses”
Twisted Scriptures
Abraham paid tithes as in plural. No it was actually a one time voluntarily tithe to Melchizedek.
(Abraham was also circumcised before the law which God actually commanded unlike the tithe he gave).
Matthew 23:23 Jesus said to tithe even though he placed it on a lower priority.
(Jesus did say to tithe to the Pharisees but note that they were still under the law, he had not yet died or said Paid in full)