Sacred Cow Series: Tithing

Next up on the “sacred cow” series, an article I’ve been wanting to write for quite some time but haven’t been able to work on; Tithing.   I think this may well be my most controversial article and figure it will generate a lot of negative feedback because it will place me squarely between tithe preachers and their revenue stream, and Christians who are  tithing to “be blessed” and “avoid curses” by “robbing God”.  If there are two areas you tread dangerously, it’s a persons money or their attempts at works-righteousness! But I simply have to write this one because the amount of abuse I’ve seen here is absolutely disgusting. 

 That being said, here we go.  A couple of ground rules before you start if you would be so kind:

1. Read the entire article. Look at scripture in its entirety, and in context. Try to put tradition aside as you look at what scripture actually teaches. Not “principles”, but what scripture actually says.

2. Understand that I am not. NOT. NOT! (clear enough?) saying that you shouldn’t give to support the local church.  If you’re looking for a justification for not giving, it won’t be here.

First of all, let’s define the term “Tithe”.  Yes, it’s clearly in the Bible, no doubt about it.  But what does the term tithe mean? Is the way the term is used today in agreement or opposition to what scripture teaches?

Tithing, as we will discuss here is the current, modern teaching of “The first 10% of your income, given to the local church.”  

There are other subtleties that we will discuss including “firstfruits”, etc. But “The first 10% of your income to the local church” is a summary which I think fairly represents the position, and to which nearly all tithe-teachers would agree.

I will contrast that with the Biblical teaching of the tithe, utilizing the most used verses by tithe-teachers and show how tithing, as described above, is unbiblical.

As a quick look at history, would any of the following surprise you?   Continue at 5Solas

Holy Cow: The Holiness of Hindu Herds by Clint Archer

The apogee of Hinduism extends far beyond the borders of India. And though Hindus do not proselytize (most believe you need to be born Indian to be Hindu), the religion is exported with the emigration of its adherents. Our church is nestled near the epicenter of the largest population of Indians outside of India—Durban, South Africa. Hinduism is not monolithic, it is a chaotically diverse kaleidoscope of beliefs, attitudes, and practices. It is mystical and enigmatic, but it does contain certain threads of commonality woven throughout its diversity. These threads reveal a religion that is fundamentally flawed as a deadly trap of false hope, with tragic results in this life and the life to come. I wanted to share one tenant which makes this religion harmful to its adherents, namely the famishing fetish they have with the sacred cow.

Most Westerners can hardly tell the difference between any old cow and the sacred cow of India. This ignorance is excusable when one considers how ordinary the holy cow seems. It grazes, chews the cud, and after allowing for the masticated mess to move through the seven sacred stomachs, it fertilizes the field just as any other cow would. If one were tramping through that field—or were a pedestrian in Delhi—and happened to plant your foot in that freshly fertilized spot, you might fail to appreciate the privilege of encountering a holy cow pie. And every report I’ve heard from visitors to India include a special mention for the ubiquitous postprandial packages strewn all over the city streets. So holiness is often in the eye of the beholder. To a Hindu Indian the cow represents something wholly different than it does to, say the average MacDonald’s customer.    Keep Reading...