Tithing Down

Baptist Press reports that only five percent of American adults donated 10 percent or more of their income to churches and charitable groups last year, according to a study by The Barna Group. Within the randomly selected group of 1,006 adults surveyed, Christians tended to give more than others. "Among the most generous segments were evangelicals (24 percent of whom tithed); conservatives (12 percent); people who had prayed, read the Bible and attended a church service during the past week (12 percent); charismatic or Pentecostal Christians (11 percent); and registered Republicans (10 percent)," George Barna said. The segments of society who were highly unlikely to tithe included people under the age of 25, atheists and agnostics, single adults who have never been married, liberals and adults who make less than $20,000 per year, the research indicated.

• While it is good to see that Evangelicals are more giving than the general population, it is sad to see that only 24% tithe. Some Christians don’t believe in tithing, saying it is legalistic law that we no longer need to follow. But tithing began with Abraham (Genesis 14:20) before Mosaic law, and was endorsed by Jesus, albeit pointing out that it is of less consequence than mercy, love and faith (Matt. 23:23, Luke 11:42).

• Furthermore, these Christians miss out on the benefits of giving: “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38)