govern point

With tough times and tax season on the way, thought it might be interesting to look at how one should tithe.  Rev. Darryl Odom, author of a new book called The Rented Veil: The High Cost of Worship.  The concept of the book is it isn’t about the gross, but the net.  In theory Christians should give 10% of their income to God, but 10% of the gross or what’s left over after all the bills are paid.

Christians who tithe — give one-tenth of their income to God— can save a lot of money by applying a correct interpretation of the biblical mandate to tithe, said Odom, former associate minister of Bethel Community Christian Church in Woodstock, Ga.

But what he defines as correct is apt to ruffle some ministerial feathers and spark naysaying among people who regularly take 10 percent off the top of their income and give it to their churches.

“Like most people, I figured a tithe was 10 percent of one’s gross income,” said Odom, who describes himself as an avid giver. “But I wanted to really look at it.

“I was always talking to people who were struggling, and I wanted to see why people felt uncomfortable or guilty about not giving.”

What he homed in on was the word “increase” in Deuteronomy 14 about tithing. He interprets “increase” to be profit — the amount left after needs of food, clothes, shelter and transportation are met. A tithe would be a tenth of that, but a tenth also should be put aside for savings, which he said also is a holy action.

With that premise, someone making $3,000 a month who needs $2,000 for basic needs would not tithe $300, but $100 — and also save $100, Odom said.

Discretionary income based tithing would then make you think that Texans, young folk and the childless proportionally should be giving more of their gross, since their discretionary income is statistically higher.  So the core question is:  “Are you going to Starbucks or church?”  Not sure how a latte helps with the afterlife, but it does make the morning go better.

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