C
Crumpy
Guest
By coincidence, I was reading this region of the Bible, when the news came out yesterday about presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s tithing in the Mormon Church. It is a rule of his church that members must contribute 10% of their income to the church.
Hmmmm.
The tithing described in Deut 26:12 sounds different. “…set aside in full the tenth part of your yield…and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow…”
(New Jewish Publication Society translation).
In his (New Testament) letter, James says that “true religioni” is visiting the widow and the fatherless. He says that Christians should not neglect the physical needs of those who have little.
In the Catholic Church, in my parish, the guideline is to give 5% to the parish, 1% to the local diocesan Catholic Services Appeal, and then to give the other 4% to charity.
Hmmmmm.
I’m just complaining, really. I grew up fatherless and my mother a widow twice. We never saw anything like the generosity commanded in scripture. We never shared in this tithe from any relatives, Catholic or Protestant.
But, don’t get me wrong. We survived, we didn’t lose our home, we ate modestly. I eventually earned three college degrees, and the first degree I earned with full financial aid from a purely secular source. God does provide. But, I digress.
Should we truly live out the gospel message with tithing in this fashion?
Hmmmm.
The tithing described in Deut 26:12 sounds different. “…set aside in full the tenth part of your yield…and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow…”
(New Jewish Publication Society translation).
In his (New Testament) letter, James says that “true religioni” is visiting the widow and the fatherless. He says that Christians should not neglect the physical needs of those who have little.
In the Catholic Church, in my parish, the guideline is to give 5% to the parish, 1% to the local diocesan Catholic Services Appeal, and then to give the other 4% to charity.
Hmmmmm.
I’m just complaining, really. I grew up fatherless and my mother a widow twice. We never saw anything like the generosity commanded in scripture. We never shared in this tithe from any relatives, Catholic or Protestant.
But, don’t get me wrong. We survived, we didn’t lose our home, we ate modestly. I eventually earned three college degrees, and the first degree I earned with full financial aid from a purely secular source. God does provide. But, I digress.
Should we truly live out the gospel message with tithing in this fashion?