Here’s something different. LifeChurch.tv, the church with locations in Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona and online is offering a three-month tithing challenge. Give for three months. If God doesn’t deliver on his promise to provide for you, you can ask for your money back. All of it. No questions asked.
Wow. Now there’s a potentially divisive approach to tithing.
On one hand I love it: The church can’t lose. They put the money in a savings account and don’t touch it for three months. They can’t get burned (and might even earn a little interest). Instead it’s a way to help people give, help them get over whatever concerns or issues or they have. And seriously–how many people would actually ask for the money back? Rather than serving as an actual program, this is just a challenge. A way to get people to think about tithing
On the other hand I’m wary: What a gimmick. It seems perfect for today’s 0% interest, no money down, ‘buy now, pay later’ mentality. And I’m not so sure the church should go there. I’m also a little put-off by the promise of God’s blessing. I do believe God will take care of you if you first give to God. But I also believe that blessing may not be financial and you may need to cancel the cable and give up the cell phone. Motivations also become suspect. What kind of gift is it if you’ve got a return policy?
Hmm, love it or hate it, this one’s interesting. At the very least, I love that it’s a unique way to get people thinking differently about giving money to the church. It has a bad rap and is sorely in need of new ideas–like the ATMs in church. (link via DJ Chuang)
Rich Schmidt
November 6, 2006
We’ve done this kind of thing at our church a couple of times. I extended the challenge as part of a money/giving series. We didn’t have people register for it or anything, like LifeChurch.tv is doing, so I don’t really know if anyone took me up on it. Nobody called asking for money back.
I didn’t say, “And if God doesn’t bless you in return,” etc, etc. No financial promises were made. And I think if you look at the actual registration form at LifeChurch.tv, you’ll see that they don’t make a promise of financial blessing either. I’m guessing it’s even more clear in the messages themselves.
The real danger, as I see it, is someone getting the mistaken idea that as long as they’re tithing, God’s blessing is assured, regardless of how they live the rest of their life. So I can lie to my wife, and God will still be smiling at me, because I’m tithing. That sort of thing. Anyone who goes into it with that idea is going to find themselves sadly disappointed by God’s response. :)
Rebekah
July 21, 2017
I am sorry, but I have to disagree. The scripture never says that you have to be a Christian in order to receive blessings from thithing. You have to give with a grateful heart. Nothing more. You can research the Bible. Tell me if it says any different, please.
Tally Wilgis
November 6, 2006
Bay Area Fellowship in Corpus Christi did this and got sued over it from a disgruntled church member who wanted their money back. You can get sued for anything… but this one is very risky to say the least. I hope it works well for them and that their people learn to trust God.
Krister
November 7, 2006
Hmmmm…. isn’t the idea with tithing that we are called to BE a blessing?
And are we not ALREADY blessed with everything according to Eph 1?
I really don’t get this, it seems selfish and weird – as if can take God’s gifts of blessing for granted.
Tithing is not a contract – it is something we do out of love!
Ryan
November 7, 2006
We are currently doing this same thing at our church. We did clarify that God’s blessing needs to be percieved as being greater than just finance. It’s the first time we’ve done it, so we’ll see…
Brandon
November 7, 2006
I think this is bold (something they aren’t opposed to being) and I’m guessing they are probably using Malachi 3:10 as their context.
If you are, I think its important that you read what comes after that. It isn’t necessarily financial blessing He’s talking about. My interpretation is its more about a blessed life, which may or may not be financial.
Holy Cow!
November 7, 2006
Definitely bold but not a line I would cross. Tithe is so much more than about me being blessed. We should obey because He is God.
Tithing shouldn’t be looked at as a transactional activity.
The Aesthetic Elevator
November 7, 2006
I like the idea and it’s audicity, but sympathize with the concerns listed here.
Surprised no one’s brought up the idea, though, that “tithing isn’t a NT concept,” which seems prevalent today.
jan deans
November 7, 2006
I think it borders on the brink of heresy…..where do we get off thinking that God’s laws are to be negotiated??…..how dare we say that I get to take back part of my worship…..this is not just about giving money, tithing and offering both are integral parts of worship…..I believe that we need to be careful playing with that which God deems sacred
Gene Mason
November 7, 2006
You know, it’s easy to trust God when our finances are great. But He really gets glory when we trust Him in the lean times. When you are making ends meet, people frankly don’t attribute that to God, do they?
But what if we realized that the blessings of God are so much more than finances. Instead of “daring” God to bless us financially if we take the “faith step” of giving him a portion of what we earn (and I almost have to laugh here at what we consider faith these days), what if we had the boldness as believers to say, “God, I’m going to trust you even if things don’t go so great down the road.”
I don’t see how a money-back guarantee engenders greater trust in God–it’s almost like lack-of-God-abundance insurance. Neither does it give the opportunity to glorify God by trusting Him in the harder times. All in all, I think a useless gesture and an unbiblical line of teaching.
God could really care less about our money. It’s all His anyway. Or do we really even believe that way down deep in our gut as the American church? Are we so afraid to really trust Him that we have to come up with “safe” ways to do it? C’mon.
Kean Edwards
November 7, 2006
I think this is totally wrong. We should tithe for our own benefit, we tithe out of obedience and our great love for God.
Also in the Bible it isn’t talking about prospering financially it is much more than that. I believe he will bless us with finances at times though.
J
November 8, 2006
It is important not to take this challenge out of the context of the 4 week message series in which it was introduced.
The Tithe Challenge seems to be founded in this passage from Malachi 3:10-11:
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
It actually says “TEST ME IN THIS”. In my opinion, this is a program that is very much in the spirit of God’s word. Never does the sermon message suggest that it won’t be difficult, won’t require sacrifice, or that God will make a 1 to 1 financial blessing. But it does challenge people to begin to tithe in a demonstration of Faith so that we may recieve the blessings of those who are faithful stewards of God’s resources.
J
November 8, 2006
It is important not to take this challenge out of the context of the 4 week message series in which it was introduced.
The Tithe Challenge seems to be founded in this passage from Malachi 3:10-11:
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
It actually says “TEST ME IN THIS”. In my opinion, this is a program that is very much in the spirit of God’s word. Never does the sermon message suggest that it won’t be difficult, won’t require sacrifice, or that God will make a 1 to 1 financial blessing. But it does challenge people to begin to tithe in a demonstration of Faith so that we may recieve the blessings of those who are faithful stewards of God’s resources.
Mark Miller
November 8, 2006
My church (wordofgrace.org) had done that for about decade untill the irs shut us down. But it worked.
anne jackson
November 12, 2006
yay for boldness and doing something crazy, but for me, it seems to kind of cheapen a very sacred and worshipful part of our lives. it feels very used car-istic to me.
Mark Petersen
November 12, 2006
Yikes! I think that is entirely the wrong way to go. It scares me a little to challenge people to put God to the test. Having faith and testing are 2 different things.
Faith has no Money-Back Guarantee. Faith is leaping in with both feet into the red sea BEFORE the water starts to part. I cannot pretend to know what God thinks of it, but it doesn’t seem much like faith to me.
Does anyone have a Don Stewart “Green Prosperity Handkerchief” I can borrow? Ok, so this isn’t nearly as bad but it’s dangerous ground.
Bill A.
November 13, 2006
Our church has done this very successfully for a number of years.
The blessing isn’t necessarily financial. There are many ways to be blessed.
We’ve never had anyone ask for their money back.
God says “test me in this”, so do it.
Joe G.
November 13, 2006
Man, I have been doing this for about 7 years. No one has taken me up on it but they have started tithing and God has blessed them tremendously. Maybe it is so controversial because a big well known church is doing it. No big deal to me.
Sara
November 14, 2006
Interesting to see the pro people with the success stories and the con people with the IRS audits. And yes, I agree with those who stated that blessings are MORE than monetary; unfortunately it’s often not taught as such in our western capitalist society.
The tithe was originally set up so the Levites could eat and have income while serving G-d full time. There are many references in the Bible commanding tithing – often context serves that people were leaning away from trusting G-d. There are many references about testing G-d and plenty that also tell us not to get stupid with it (temptation of Christ). As with any act of service, we need to ask ourselves what is our motivation? Where is our heart?
G-d pours down blessings and the righteous and the wicked whether or not you tithe. It’s when we start demanding G-d bless us in the way WE WANT that things get sticky. Blessings often aren’t realized if they aren’t wrapped in the paper we requested.
I appreciate the thought, but I think the implied instant gratification message “Give In Order To Get” rides pretty close to the pharisitical teachings of televangelists.
Jim McGee
November 15, 2006
One pastor I know has always included this disclaimer in his stewardship sermons: “If you question my motives for speaking about giving, then please give to a ministry other than this church. But do give somewhere.”
I understand the imperative to support those who are feeding you, but I think in this day, when everyone’s motives are suspect, this is a good approach. Obedience requires that leaders encourage and teach about faithful giving, but it comes off looking cheap when the one delivering the message stands to benefit directly.
It doesn’t hurt that the church has a no-debt policy in its constitution.
Chris
November 21, 2006
This makes my heart ache. Then again, I have recently grown to hate money, so Who am I to judge?
DS
December 12, 2006
I’m learning that man is so imperfect that he often times misconscrues the word of God. Often times he will use God’s words to his advantage. Because of this, and because I am a Christian, I now seek the context of God’s words on my own. It is up to us to study and find, on our own, what God expects from us; and that comes with maturity in Him. We can not rely on the church, because it WILL fail us. We have to read the Bible for ourselves and it will tell us, plain and simple…
“Honor the Lord with your income, with the firstfruits of all your crops, then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10
Then celebrate to the Lord by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the Lord has given you.
Deuteronomy 16:10
“The tithe is the Lord’s.
Leviticus.” 27:30
Be blessed!
Ted Smethers
December 25, 2006
Our church has had a tithing guarantee for about 15 years now. No problem. Maybe gave back some donations once to a single mom. I think maybe some of the previous commentors have read more into this than was intended. Clearly the Lord intends us to tithe. So the issue is not with believers, but with the unbelievers in our churches. Our pews are full of people who are Christian in name only. So if it helps to keep some of these folks in the church a little longer in hopes that someday they will “get it”, then we should do it. A lot of pagans who wander into the church are very aware that all we want is their money. A money back policy is thus a very effective tool that says, “No, we are interested in you more than your money.”
Thus it is a heart issue. Are not all issues heart issues. If you do this out of a love for the people and desire to do the right thing to show them the love of Christ, then by all means go for it. But if your desire is to trick people or preach a false prosperity gospel, then shame on you. There will be an accounting some day.
tithe and offering guru
January 25, 2007
That is interesting, to say the least. Of course in the long run it’ll bite them in the but. I really hate to say this about a church, but i can’t wait til it does. The thing is this generation won’t realize it as much as the next generation will. cause they’ll look at their parents and just say what were you thinking? It looks like the church is so desparate for money. i’d rather them just come out and say that you should give because we need it. rather than use tactics that God permitted himself to use. The problem is that people are tithing and are still broke.
tithe and offering guru
January 25, 2007
yeah, tithing is getting more complicated, thanks to those people who want to put out the “money back guarantee” clause. People are tithing and are still broke and are finally asking the questions. and putting these ministers on the spot. Anyways i don’t believe in tithing, even though i do give above 10%
BHonest
July 23, 2007
It seems like another Church gimmick to be honest. I like how church turns something as beautiful as giving back into a lottery. Roll the dice and hope for the 30, 60, or 100 fold blessing. Don’t worry that your kids wont have food this month, because this may be the month that God takes your 10% and returns it a hundred fold… Many will play, few will win. Drink responsibly. Giving is about the heart, not about 10%. If you can’t be convinced easily enough in scripture that tithing no longer applies as a law/rule, check out some history of the writings of early christians..here is one to site –Irenaeus (written around 180 A.D., ANF 1:477, Against Heresies, Book IV, Chapter XIII, paragraph 3)
“And instead of the tithes which the law commanded, the Lord said to divide everthing we have with the poor. And he said to love not only our neighbors but also our enemies, and to be givers and sharers not only with the good but also to be liberal givers toward those who take away our possessions.” and another Justin Martyr (written 160 A.D., ANF 1:185-186)
“The wealthy among us help the needy… As for the persons who are prosperous and are willing, they give what each thinks fit.”
David Cottrel
September 8, 2007
Against Heresies, Book IV, Chapter XIII, paragraph 3
He prohibited anger; and instead of the law enjoining the giving of tithes, [He told us] to share [3953] all our possessions with the poor; and not to love our neighbours only, but even our enemies; and not merely to be liberal givers and bestowers, but even that we should present a gratuitous gift to those who take away our goods.
Red Brown
April 8, 2008
“Tithing and Still Broke” There is a book on Amazon with that title.
micael
May 23, 2009
“Share everything with your brother. Do not say, ‘It is private property.’ If you share what is everlasting, you should be that much more willing to share things which do not last.” – The Didache, c. 90 AD, (Did. 4:8)
“Now then hear me and be at peace among yourselves, have regard one to another, and assist one another, and do not partake of what God has created alone in abudance, but share them also with those that are in need. For some men through their much eating bring weakness on the flesh, and injure their flesh: whereas the flesh of those who have nothing to eat is injured by their not having sufficient nourishment, and their body is ruined. This absence of community therefore is hurtful to you that have and do not share with them that are in want. Think of the judgment that will come! You then that have more than enough, seek out them that are hungry!” … “Take heed therefore; as dwelling in a strange land prepare nothing more for yourself but a competency which is absolutely sufficient and necessary.” – The Shepherd of Hermas, c. 110 AD, (Herm. Vis. 3:9:2-5 and Herm. Sim. 1:6)
“They [Christians] love one another. They do not overlook the widow, and they save the orphan. He who has ministers ungrudgingly to him who does not have. When they see strangers, they take him under their own roof and rejoice over him as a true brother, for they do not call themselves brothers according to the flesh but according to the soul.” – Aristides, early 2nd century
“We who once took most pleasure in the means of increasing our wealth and property now bring what we have into a common fund and share with everyone in need.” – Justin Martyr, 100-165 AD (1st Apology 14)
“Christians despise all possessions and share them mutually.” – Lucian (pagan author), 2nd century
See more qoutes at http://www.christarchy.com/profiles/blogs/early-christian-teaching-on
Terry
August 15, 2014
It make me sick to see pastor think that they have to resort to manipulation to get people to give. 2 Corinthians 9: 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. 8And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. Second of all what makes a pastor think he can give God’s money back? Once you give it to God isn’t it God? The sad thing is at churches spend money on thinks they shouldn’t spend it on. James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. The church does a miserable job of following this. We Builded ridiculous buildings and spend money on worldly stuff all in the name of God. Go read the Judgement in Matthew 25:31-46.