How Should I Think About Tithing During Covid-19?

Tithing (or giving) is a sensitive subject right now. 

With the economy down and churches not gathering, some are wondering if this should affect their giving patterns. 

This is understandable. We’re in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic which has had a ripple effect on every aspect of our lives (including finances).

So how should we think about giving as it relates to the church during this season?

Is it ok to give less than before? Or is it right to continually give the same though there are no in-person gatherings? 

But first, a few key thoughts worth mentioning:

PRELIMINARY Affirmations

1. The Bible Commands Generosity as a Way of Life for God’s People

There are differing opinions when it comes to the tithe. Some Bible scholars affirm it, and some don’t. 

Personally, I wonder if the debate is sort of irrelevant since the Bible commands an overarching principle of generosity (1 John 3:17; Hebrews 13:16).

We could spend our energy trying to figure out whether the 10% that was given to the priests and Levites in the Old Testament applies to us today, or we can practice joyful giving towards God’s people and the world in real time as followers of Jesus.

So affirm the tithe? We give 10%. But even if we don’t, we affirm the Biblical principle of generosity which envisions 10% as the first step to our giving potential.

Oh, and the Bible doesn’t have an exception clause for generosity. 

Unlike the argument that some give for divorce (that adultery makes divorce permissible) there is no Biblical “out” when it comes to generosity. There are no loopholes. No reasons are provided for why someone should not give. 

Even more so, the tone of the Bible double-downs on giving. Giving comes from the first of what we have, not last. Sacrificial giving (exemplified by the widow and that of the Macedonians) are celebrated by Jesus and Paul. 

2. Scientific Data Supports the Benefits of Generosity for Human Beings

There are fascinating case studies that have demonstrated how giving benefits us.

In 2006, neuroscientists Jordan Grafman and Jorge Moll at the National Institute of Health scanned the brains of volunteers as they worked through scenarios of donating money to charity or keeping it. The test revealed that when money was donated, it lit up an area of the brain toward the forehead (anterior prefrontal cortex). The study went on to show that giving activated a part of the brain that usually responds to food or sex. 

But this has to be joyful giving right? Not obligated? 

Surprisingly, no. 

In the same study, in instances where keeping the money came with a penalty (like a tax), the same part of the brain was still activated. In other words, just the act of giving was enough. Sure, the more someone gave voluntary, the higher the level of brain activity, but the sheer act of giving itself caused a reaction on a neurobiological level.

In other words, to give is to be a healthy human.

This is why the author Jenny Santi in a Time article called, “The Secret to Happiness Is Helping Others” writes “…altruism is hardwired in the brain—and it’s pleasurable. Helping others may just be the secret to living a life that is not only happier but also healthier, wealthier, more productive, and meaningful.”

This is why I believe the idea of generosity has been celebrated cross-culturally from Chinese sayings of Eastern culture to Western philosophers. All cultures have propagated generosity.

Does a Tension Currently Exist?

So how should we think about giving during this season?

Probably the way we were supposed to think about it prior to this crisis.

After all, the Biblical tone for giving and its benefits for us hasn’t changed. So whatever someone gave to one’s church prior to this season should probably be sustained in the present. 

But here’s what may have changed for some of us: the circumstances.

So how is someone who has lost his or her job, or experienced a shortage of hours but facing a hill of bills supposed to give financially to one’s church? Isn’t it cruel for this person to feel guilted into giving right now? Wouldn’t God understand the plight of someone in a painful situation? 

Absolutely. 

I believe God is grieving with those presently struggling financially. More-so, I believe he is angered by religious leaders who are guilt-tripping and pressuring people to give during this crisis rather than working to relieve their burdens.

I just think we should (if we’re able) avoid an “all-or-nothing” mindset in how we process giving in the present moment.

In other words, the best remedy may not be an either/or conclusion where someone says “I have to keep giving what I was giving” or say “I’m simply not giving anything at all.”

The answer may lie in a wider continuum of thought based off of wise assessment of our current circumstances and a desire to step into generosity. I’m suggesting maybe the tension can be held a bit longer before cutting the cord because I believe this tension is one Christians should be grappling with (even without a crisis).

Now should some individuals facing dire financial circumstances temporarily suspend giving completely? Yes. But for others? Necessary adjustment may be the better first step than outright stoppage. 

Concluding REmarks 

If you’re a church member, please know that Jesus was a master of understanding the human heart. He knew then and he knows now our propensity to cling to things (like money) so tightly that it becomes a straitjacket for our hearts. Generosity, therefore, is a weapon Jesus equips us with so we can fight the greed that so easily entangles us. 

Jesus is not after your money. He doesn’t need it. Jesus is after your heart. Remember, he became poor so that we might become spiritually rich in him. He took the outcast’s posture though he was God’s Son. He left heaven’s palace to hang on a wooden cross.

This is why God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:6-7): Because he is one! And God wants us to grasp this with such conviction that it leads to a glad generosity that’s symmetrical to the tone of Scripture. 

If you’re a church leader, this is a season of discipling our people through the push and pull of comfort and calling. There will be times when we must comfort our people with sensitivity. There will be times when we must lead our people to the calling they’ve received as disciples of Jesus. 

Oh, and for the latter (calling), I encourage you to leverage vision more than obligation to motivate your people to give. Obligation says, “You should because you’re a Christian.” Vision says, “Here’s how we’re advancing the gospel during this time, you in?” 

So pick an initiative. Communicate how your staff is being mobilized. Studies have shown that people feel happier giving to a cause that specifies what’s being done, rather than some wordy generality. This is an opportunity to lead.

Jesus knows we need money. He just happens to also know our other needs which are far greater than the dollar. I’m thankful for a God who invites us as children but knows we’re weak as dust. He gives us privilege and patience. And we need it more than ever these days.