Honestly, this is a very heavy burden for me to write an editorial with the title above. It’s not for any particular reason, but I’m worried about my safety; I might even get stoned if you meet me at church. Nevertheless, I dare myself to write it. This is because at Bethany Sydney, no offering bags are passed around, so offerings are given based on each congregant's own conscience. Wow, this sounds like good news, doesn’t it?
So here’s the thing: just because our church doesn't "require" offerings, don't be happy thinking we don't need to spend money and can “save costs.” If we read Leviticus 26:31, we will find the punishment God gave to the people of Israel: "I will turn your cities into ruins and lay waste your sanctuaries, and I will take no delight in the aroma of your offerings." God no longer wished to receive offerings from His people. I highly recommend that you also look at the preceding verses starting from verse 14, as you will find that God multiplied the punishment 7 times heavier up to 4 times, namely in verses 18, 21, 23, and 28. This means that the punishment mentioned in verse 31 falls into the category of the last and most severe punishments God gave to the people of Israel. Included in this category of severe punishments is God rejecting our offerings!
Tithes are the same. Many people are unwilling to give tithes based on various arguments. “Tithes are from the Old Testament, while we live in the New Testament. So they no longer apply,” is one common excuse. This implies that tithing is no longer necessary. Is that really true? Let’s put it this way: as Christians, don't we believe what Jesus said? Matthew 23:23 records Jesus’ words: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.” What did Jesus mean by "These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone"? It means that tithing of mint and its companions should indeed be done, but the other matters—justice, mercy, and faithfulness—should not be neglected. So, you can see for yourselves that Jesus did not abolish tithing, did He?
I understand that tithing is often a subject of scorn because of the many grand churches and the sometimes glamorous lives of servants of God, which are almost indistinguishable from celebrities. However, when I give, I am not giving to the church or to a servant of God. I am simply doing my part by giving to God, through the church where I worship. How the church manages the congregants' offerings is their business and their responsibility to God.
Through this editorial, I truly do not aim to scare you into giving offerings. You yourselves know that I am just an ordinary congregant given the opportunity to write in the Church Bulletin. So, this editorial I’ve written truly comes from an ordinary congregant, and it's for fellow congregants. And in my opinion, if we do not give offerings, including tithes, the risk is actually on us. Therefore, as long as there is an opportunity to give offerings and tithes, my friend, do it for God.