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A reader of these pages would be forgiven for thinking that I should be vehemently opposed to the established churches. Well those who know me personally know I am not, and while I feel that deserves some sort of explanation I am unable at this time to offer it.
I have little in common with most people associated with churches. Most of them (not all – and some in varying degrees), I feel, are seeking comfortable assurances that they are right and good and loved and almost perfect. I find that generally these people are not growing, they avoid uncomfortable issues, they deny contradictions which are obvious to outsiders, and they are largely motivated in their loyalty to the institutions of the church by guilt and fear. Generally they are ignorant of the Bible, and although they may own many copies they rarely study – much less think about – the content, the context or its implications.
It is a beautiful paradox that we have a church which is largely ignorant of the content and meaning of the scriptures which lie at its centre, its raison-d'etre. Nevertheless the relationship between the Bible and the church is such that the church has successfully ensured the preservation and reproduction of the Bible so far. (It is apt to consider the limitations which the church has placed on Truth by canonisation of the Bible – but that is an issue for a separate page.)
People who read and think about the application of the Bible may gain from it awful inspiration, profound purpose and vast strength. It is not a little ironic that generally these people are not important in the church – there is little acceptance of folk with such a radical view of the world – they are discomforting.
It is thus a classic symbiosis – in which the Bible on one hand and the church on the other depend each on the other for their survival even though they share few commonalties. For myself, the church brought me to the Bible, and for that I am grateful. Whatever weakness I see in the church as an institution serves only to highlight the truth the Bible contains.
Ultimately faith is not lived by an organisation – it is lived by individuals of whom you and I are each one. My responsibility is not to be concerned about the success or failures I might see in organisations or others, but only to honour Truth as I live my own part.
Having no ill-will toward the church is one thing, but giving them money is surely quite another? Why do that?
There are two reasons. Of least importance is the preservation of the institution discussed above. I think this reason is not very important, as the collapse of the church would only see the emergence of some other religious organisation which would preserve and propagate access to Truth.
The greater reason is in a sense partly selfish – it is about expressing my own relationship to material things. By tithing I am reminding myself at regular intervals that money and the material things associated with it are not critical nor even important among my priorities.
This concept was well expressed by Erich Fromm:
The most widespread misunderstanding is that which assumes that giving is “giving up” something, being deprived of, sacrificing.
(For others) giving has an entirely different meaning. Giving is the highest expression of potency. In the very act of giving I experience my strength, my wealth, my power. This experience of heightened vitality and potency fills me with joy. ... Giving is more joyous than receiving, not because it is a deprivation, but because in the act of giving lies the expression of my aliveness. (E.Fromm The Art of Loving New York; Harper 1956)
Consciously engaging in tithing is a statement to myself of wealth. I do this because I can afford to.
It is immaterial where the sacrifice goes or what the recipient does with it. It is not a gift with a particular purpose intended (that would be a chosen allocation of resources not a sacrifice) rather it is a pushing away from me. The emphasis is on the action of putting it away from me – where it goes then must be unimportant.
In this regard I could just as well make my donation to the tax office, or make a little pile of notes and set fire to them, the principal effect would be the same. It is important that the destination remains a secondary consideration – and often that presents some difficulty.
My support for the church is thus hopefully shown to be a part of the way I live out my faith. I hope you don't think me a hypocrite because of it.
Peter Hoban
At the time this page was written I was still a regular churchgoer. While I am no longer associated with any church and do not tithe to one, the principles remain just as valid, and as true for me.
Original: September ‘99
Revised: January ‘03
This page is part of “Living in the Light”
found at: http://www.tassie.net.au/~phoban/
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