The Party Tithe

The Party Tithe

"(W)hen the place where the Lord your God will choose to set his name is too far away from you, then you may turn your tithe into money.  With the money secure in hand, go to the place that the Lord your God will choose, spend the money for whatever you wish-oxen, sheep, wine, strong drink, or whatever you desire. And you shall eat there in the presence of the Lord you God, you and your household rejoicing together." Deuteronomy 14:24-26

This changes everything. Maybe we have been taught to tithe out of a sense of duty. Maybe we have been taught to tithe because the church needs our money. Maybe we have been taught to tithe because we need a tax break or an investment strategy. Maybe we tithe because we like the feeling of being holier-than-thou. But when was the last time we hear a sermon explaining that, if we insist on being selectively legalistic, God's word demands ten percent of our income to be set aside, not for the church, not for the poor, but for a great big party? Our tithe is for joy the presence of God!

Do you remember that sermon? The sermon about the party that wasn't flowing with milk and honey bur flowing with brisket and beer? That's church renewal we can get excited about! But instead, we talk about the habits of highly effective churches and pontificate on the malaise of declining congregations. Does this even come close to the dream that Jesus has for the church?  No. Jesus describes the gathering of God's people as a foretaste of the heavenly banquet full of colorful riff-raff. (Luke 14:15-24) Baptists, beware! There will be dancing! Presbyterians, loosen your ties. Nazarenes, now is the time for wine! Seventh-Day Adventists, there is going to be meat! This is a raucous affair! in this place, int the presence of God, there is joy!