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IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN! - STEWARDSHIP SEASON
By Peter Cook
It is that time of year again - Stewardship! Most clergy would claim that over the years they have tried just about every rationale in an effort to encourage the faithful to be - well faithful.
I remember asking a retired priest who had 'graduated' to working in our diocesan office what he enjoyed most about retiring from the parish. With a smile of contentment, he replied: "Not having to worry about stewardship!"
When I arrived at my present parish the prevailing philosophy was: "Let's see what the stewardship campaign produces and we will see if we can afford it." Over the years we have turned that around. "Let's pray and ask the Lord what ministries and growth he has in store for us. Let's put a price to it, and present a budget that keeps us faithfully doing the Lord's business." Some years we have had to add a "faith element" to the budget. But so far God has always honored that.
Scripture is pretty clear about the tithe being 10%. Naturally, that is where our sophistry begins. We recall that back in Moses' day there was no government, no taxes, no welfare to fund. So, 10% before or after taxes? Of course, if all churchgoers actually gave 10% to churches, then local church communities could actually fund many government services, including welfare for the needy. It could take us back to Parish Relief of medieval England - but with modern caring, and the personal touch.
The reason most of us don't come anywhere near the biblical tithe is because we saddle ourselves with too much house - so monthly mortgage, car, and other payments consume too much of our budget. We end up tithing on "available income." Available income means that it's very easy for the tithe to descend to only one tenth of one tenth, or 1/100th of gross income. In our effort to model biblical tithing, our church of St. Michael & All Angels decided some years ago to set aside 1/10th of all tithes we receive. We put it in a special Mission Fund so that we can distribute it each year. God has honored that too.
One argument for biblical stewardship might be to say that God works on a 10% basis. God can only bless up to 10 times what we give. So, no wonder if God only blesses 10 or 20% of life's activities. I call this the mathematical argument. I've used that before!
Alternatively, and arguing from realism, we encourage folk to embark on a five year financial plan. Work yourself up to a full tithe, incrementally.
When we do tithe fully, we discover that there is such a thing as spiritual or "biblical economics." Those who discipline themselves to tithe usually say that their finances actually improve. They end up with more money to spend on themselves and family. Why? It has something to do with the discipline that tithing brings to our desires and wants. These become less extravagant. We become less wasteful. We actually do need less in money terms than we think. That means more to give to God and to others.
---The Rev. Dr. Peter J.A. Cook, M.A., is rector of St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, in Lake Charles in the Diocese of Western Louisiana .
