Jesus ain't gettin' my money

Not that he doesn't deserve it. Jesus is a good guy. But, I have always had a huge problem with the whole tithing thing. It's why I stopped going to church. I just can't stomach it. Every church I went to ended up in the same pile of pleas for cash. Every so often someone gets up and says how we should tith and how much better their life was after they made a financial commitment to the Lord. Um, no.

See, it's this way - I don't think Jesus needs a roof. The man was a carpenter. If he needed a roof, he would have built one. Man had a mount. Mounts don't carry mortgages. Jesus never went to anyone and said, "Look dude. I have a marketing plan for this new concept and I'm gonna need a few bucks to get it up and going. Whadaya say?" At least, not that I know of. I am damn certain that none of the disciples were mortgage brokers that could get him a good rate if he, say put 10% down. I'd put money on that. So why does he need a roof now? And why does he church down the street need a movie theatre?

It's where logic starts taking over. Mind you, if you really want to know how insane my mind is, THIS is the crap that I think of when I can't sleep. Why do people build churches? It's to spread the word of the Lord, right? It's to teach the word of the Lord and to follow in HIs footsteps and act accordingly, right? Correct me if I'm missing something here. Now, I get that. I get the teachings. And, watch me bring it back to tithing, I understand giving back. I'm just not giving up the dough.

Actually I am, just not to a church. I will never so do. But, I will give as much money to my community as I possibly can. I wish I made more money so I could give more of it away. Sounds odd and kind of fake in an ass kissy kind of way but I am dead serious. I would write big ol' checks if I had more money. When I do my home budget each year, charitable giving is an actual line item. For now, I just write little checks. I give my time because I don't have the money.

I thought about it tonight as I got home at 9pm after four hours working for two different non-profits. This is normal for me. I put in at least 10 hours a week of volunteer time. All of it is spent, in some way, giving back to my community. How is that not the same, if not better, than tithing? Is that not following the path of the righteous? I think Jesus would be proud of me in the same way that I think God thinks it's okay that my idea of church on Sunday in hanging out in my kitchen listening to Mahalia Jackson.

Comments

[Diana]

Very true! And He never held court in a building - he did it one and one and from wherever he happened to be at that moment. I don't think he would have gotten many followers sitting in a room waiting for the people to come to him.

So why do our ministers?

[Jenny Ryan]

I'm with you. I cringe at all the harm that has been done by humans trying to make God in their own image and then using it to control and manipulate others.

[kellypea]

Amen, Sister. Say it loudly and throw your arms in the air. Church is not a pleasant subject for me. Ever. And you're right. They don't need a roof. What's up with that whole Crystal Cathedral anyway? It reeks of scam. My "church" is outside around the things that make up this world we live in that need little or no help from others to thrive. I appreciate them every day. And excellent that you are volunteering. I'm not there yet, but am considering getting involved something to do with my 15-year-old so he can think of others -- including the earth. Hal-lah-loo-yah! Oh, and, did you get that pannini yet?

[delmer]

One of the nice things about the Catholics is that they never talk about money in church.

They just send you a bill.

(Oh, and the little envelopes each month. Let's not forget those.)

[Jayne]

I believe that giving is good for us, but I'm also very particular about who I give to. I like to think the money is going to make a difference to people who need it, and not be spent on buying gold-plated offering plates.

[sognatrice]

What a coincidence--I was just discussing this over email with a blogging friend. She asked about weddings in Italy and whether there's a lot of red tape. I told her I don't really know, and won't ever know because I won't be married in the church here, there, or anywhere.

The beginning of the end of my relationship with the Catholic Church (and most likely any organized religion) came when my local parish priest in America told my dad after I moved to Philadelphia that he'd best be advised to keep putting in my weekly envelopes in case I wanted to ever be married in that church--mind you, my family has been a part of that religious community for about 100 years.

I still feel like I'm a pretty good person, and I have a moral code and all, but until humans are out of my relationship with a higher power, I don't see organized religion working very well for me.

Great post, and thanks for joining my community at MyBlogLog :)

[liv]

Jesus might not personally need the money, but I do like giving some funds to the church's programs that do good works outside of his house.

[Welby]

I tithe.

I've tithed at times when it seemed like the stupid thing to do. In times where mathematically my income versus my bills simply wasn't enough, I tithed knowing it would make the shortfall 10 percent greater. And strangely, during those *years* whenever things seemed desperate, money would come in. A refund check I wasn't expecting. A bonus for a service award at work that I hadn't realized I'd been nominated for. A raise that I didn't ask for, against the normal schedule.

You seem dismissive of the idea that tithing can generate blessings in someone's life. "I will put my Jesus in a box which he can not operate outside of. I don't tithe, therefore anyone who tithes can't be blessed by their form of giving." That would be just as silly as me saying Jesus can't bless you because you give in other ways.

[Lifesinger™]

Well said, Welby! I tithe too, and I understand on a very deep level how and why the others here have reached their conclusions. I used to say the exact same things, and feel the same way they did,

I was challenged to put it (God/tithing as explained in Malachi 3)to the test.

Mind you, tithing and I didn't click right away, I started and stopped several times always, it seemed, after things started improving.

I would stop, each time using the same ol' justification(s),
until, this last time, when I found myself in such dire straits financially, and in my physical health. Everything that could go wrong, appeared to be going wrong.

That's when I remembered God's promises, and decided to cling to them and make an honest commitment to tithe faithfully.

I have not been dissapointed! I can honestly say ALL my needs have been, and are being met, sometimes in the most miraculous ways.

I say YAY!! to God, Yeshua, and tithing! And if none of you ever decide to tithe, that's cool too. It doesn't bother me in the least. :D
I still love ya' regardless.

We all have our own lessons to learn while on this planet. May we learn them quickly, and in
peace.

Onward. Upward. Joyfully!

Blessings,

~~Life

P.S. I haven't been to a worship service in a church building in years. ;)

[Vanessa]

If tithing is for you, I say go for it! I'm just saying it's not for me. As I sadi, I pay my part with labor and with money only I put it in a different place than the collection plate. I dont' think it makes any of us better than the other. It just makes us different. I am certain my good deeds will come back to me. Not that that's what I'm looking for. I don't want anything back. Kind of a pay it forward sort of thing...

[Auntie Mame]

This came to mind:
Matthew 21:12: Then Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those who were selling and buying in the temple courts, and turned over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves.

21:13 And he said to them, “It is written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’but you are turning it into a den of robbers!”