A Note on the Tithe

But as you excel in everything– in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you– see that you excel in this act of grace also. – 2 Corinthians. 8:7

The “act of grace” that Paul is extolling here in our Epistle reading for the day (2 Corinthians 8:1-9, 13-15) is the financial support for the needs of the church. Money issues tend to be the third rail of congregational life. Everyone knows that they are important. The one vote you know you will take every year will be the vote on the budget. It is a truism that the Bible talks more about money and our use of it than it does about a whole host of other topics. Yet we tend not to be clear about financial support of congregations. We vote on what we agree to spend, but then often fail to consider our support.

When Paul places financial support for the needs of the church in the category of “act of grace” he is placing it in the realm of the gospel which is a meaningful decision. If he wanted to place such support in the realm of the law he could have done so. There are numerous tithes stated and discussed in the Old Testament and the law of Moses. The purpose of the tithe was for the support of the Levites, the priestly tribe of Israel. “To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting, (Num. 18:21)” Those Levites from their tithes were to also take care of the widow, the fatherless and the sojourner (Deut. 26:12). And the law of God is good and wise. When we are talking about things we’d rather not, we are quick to dismiss the law and claim our Christian freedom. Sometimes falling into the error of pitting the gospel against the law. Christ did not come to do away with the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). We are freed from the penalties of the law, but the good will of God expressed in the law is something we seek to fulfill.

One of the oldest stories in the Bible centers upon the disposition of the heart towards God in material blessings. Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground. Abel brought the first born of his flock and its fat portion (Genesis 4:3-4). The LORD had regard for Abel’s, but not for Cain’s. And it is this distinction that leads to the first murder. This distinction is also the difference between the legalistic tithe and Paul’s “act of grace.” God had provided for both Cain and Abel. It was Abel’s trust that the providence of the LORD would continue and continue to be enough, it was his faith in the grace of God, that brought forth his offering of the firstborn and their fat portion. Fear always lurks. Fear that the LORD is not as good as his promises.

Paul continues in 2 Corinthians to make the distinction between an extraction and an “act of grace.” It would certainly be possible to extract an offering from the Corinthians, but such an extraction wouldn’t do anyone any good. It might even be like Cain leading to a hardening of the heart. Instead Paul has “arranged in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it will be ready as a willing gift, not as an extraction (2 Cor 9:5).” Paul’s encouragement is for the Corinthians to understand and act upon the economics of the Kingdom of God. First is that “He (meaning God) has distributed freely, he has given to the poor, his righteousness endures forever (2 Cor 9:9).” The grace of God has been given to us poor sinners in Jesus Christ. And the righteousness of Christ endures forever. We need never fear a lack, for God has made his grace abound. The promise of God here is much like the promise of God given in Malachi 3:10, “bring the full tithe in…put me to the test says the LORD, and I will pour down blessing.” “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness (2 Cor 9:10).” The economics of the Kingdom of God are of abundance. It starts as a mustard seed. It starts as 5 loaves and feeds 5000. The grace of God multiplies that given in faith.

And what does it mean to give in faith? “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor 9:7).” Reflect on the will of God expressed in the law that he wishes to see brought to completion. Reflect upon the God’s providence of temporal goods and of his grace in Christ. The “act of grace” is that portion freely given seeking the good of the Kingdom of God that grace might be increased. The will of God will certainly be done, but here is our chance to see it done amongst us and to participate in that grace.

I’m sure there is someone out there who tithed and regrets. But I honestly have never met that man or woman. There are lots of spiritual reasons. “Where your treasure is, there will be your heart also (Matt 6:21).” “Whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward (Matt. 10:42).” And there are many other such verses. But not least of the reasons is probably something that Paul says here. “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully (2 Cor 9:6).” Those who “excel in this act of grace” usually have the best eyes to see the return.

So my encouragement here is for your Spiritual good. Take the time. Decide in your heart cheerfully. And support the Kingdom of God with your gifts. As you excel in everything, see that you excel in this act of grace also.

Loaded Camels

Biblical Text: Mark 10:23-31
Full Sermon Draft

This sermon is the continuation of last week’s gospel lesson (Mark 10:17-22). The focus in the text is on the difference, the astonishing reversal of the values of the Kingdom of God. That reversal gets everyone’s attention, but that reversal is put to sharp use. The full weight of the law is brought to bear in the saying “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom.” What wealth really does, as the lesson for the day from Ecclesiastes knows, is increase our responsibilities. The weight of the law becomes greater. The camel gets its full load. At the same time we become convinced that we are good at this, after all look at all we have. Jesus call out the huge mistake in that thinking. But he then tells us what the eye of the needle is. It is his promise. All things are possible for God. You will have treasure in heaven. You will be paid back 100-fold. Not in a prosperity gospel way. In this appointed time that comes with persecutions, but in the age to come eternal life. We enter life because God is good, and he has made salvation available by faith. Trusting in the work of Jesus and not our work. He is so good that he has extended to us the change to participate in that gospel. And that participation is part of our proof, part of the return.

Program Note: This is a re-recording. I messed up the original. So you don’t get any of the great hymns we sang. My guess is that you wouldn’t hear these at most American congregations. They are gems of the faith, but supposedly not what is “relevant”. Although given the text the are spot on. We opened with Lutheran Service Book 730 – What is the World to Me. The hymn of the day, was Lutheran Service Book 753 – All for Christ I have Forsaken. That link is not a informative because it is a newer hymn. But here is another congregation singing this haunting hymn from you tube.

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Things of Caesar…Things of God

Biblical Text: Matthew 22:15-22
Full Sermon Draft

That title is a reference to the aphorism of Jesus, “give back to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to God the things of God”. That phrase is more than a slippery evasion of the question the Pharisees were asking him. It is a startlingly deep teaching on limits to the temporal state and the extent of the requests of the Gospel. There are of course book length treatises that examine this. This sermon attempts to focus on three things:
1) What the things of Caesar are by bringing in Romans 13
2) What Caesar should provide, and a simple description following Peter Leithart’s taxonomy: guardians, babels and beasts, of the limits of our giving back to Caesar.
3) What giving back to God means with a focus on three ideas: a) bearing the image of God through baptism, b) the summary of the law as our spiritual worship and b) the gospel tithe.

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