Jane: Pastor, do Lutherans believe in tithing?
Pastor: Jane, that is good question. Tithing is of course biblical. In Leviticus 27:30-33, God is speaking to Moses.
30 One-tenth of everything the land produces—seeds from the ground and fruits from the trees—belongs to Me and is sacred to Me. 31 If a man desires to buy back a portion of My1⁄10, he must pay its value plus 1⁄5. 32 Regarding your livestock, 1⁄10 of the herd or flock must be set apart for Me as holy. As you count them, every tenth animal that passes beneath the shepherd’s rod belongs to Me. 33 It does not matter whether the animals are good or bad, and one must not think about switching or replacing one for another. If he does, then the original and the replacement are both sacred and cannot be redeemed.(The Voice)
Jane: That sounds like law, and I am Christian.
Pastor: Particularly good point Jane. As a Lutheran, we see that Jesus fulfilled all the laws and commandments. The laws were not abolished but fulfilled by His actions on our behalf. The law points to our need for the Gospel, Jesus.
Jane: Giving ten percent of what I make sounds great, but let’s be honest, I’m nowhere near that. I have a family and bills to pay. I guess I’m doing it wrong.
Pastor: This isn’t a story of shame. We proclaim a God of grace, Jane! Think of it as a journey of generosity. God meets you where you are and invites you to consider the next step on the journey.
Jane: Seriously? God will meet me where I am on that journey of generosity?
Pastor: Exactly. If you’ve never made a gift before, consider that first one. If you’ve given one, try to give more regularly. If you give regularly, consider what it might mean to take the next step forward in generosity. While some people give well beyond 10% of what they make, many others
Jane: I think I can do that. But how much is enough?
Pastor: Generosity isn’t about ‘doing it right.’ A journey of generosity has no end. Often we grow in giving. Sometimes, due to changes in our circumstances, the dollar amount of our gifts goes down. We simply prayerfully keep on the journey.
Jane: Why do you give?
Pastor: I respond God’s love for me by sharing what God has given. As we share that with the church, you get to be a part of changing people’s lives. The Apostle Paul tells us, as followers of Christ, “6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver,” (NIV 2 Co 9:6–7)
Jane: Thank you, Pastor, for taking the time to help me understand and supporting me in my giving, so that our congregation can reach out to all of God’s people.
Pastor: No, thank you Jane, for being willing to reach outand learn more. Go in peace!