Tithing from Bishop Ann Sherer Simpson

This is the present Bishop of the Nebraska Annual Conference of the UMC speaking on tithing (which is giving a tenth of one's income to the ministry of Christ through the church).

I got to thinking of it as I was preparing my sermon on Isaiah 58 (the mind does work in interesting ways). Isaiah's not talking about tithing at all, but a phrase popped out at me that relates a little.  Through Isaiah, God challenges God's people to "spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry" (Is 58.10, NIV).

Spend ourselves.  That's interesting language that takes on a financial tone.  The challenge I find in this, is that perhaps Isaiah's oracle from God doesn't deal much with tithing as it's practiced (or not practiced) in many of our churches.  Sadly, an inadequate portion of most church budgets is spent in behalf of the hungry.  Of course, Mission Shares (apportionments) can be considered, in part, to be spent in behalf of the hungry.  But much of local church budgets is dominated by facilities and staffing.  So then, the challenge for churches and church leaders, is how to spend its facilities and staff in behalf of the hungry. That's an odd phrase, but said in another way, our challenge is in finding ways to use the things we churches spend most of our money on - facilities and staff - in behalf of the hungry.  I suspect this looks like much more than offering weekly worship services.

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