'They just want your money, don't they?' He asked, genuinely curious. I struggled to reply, explaining that, yes—the church functions with money donated, but they also use money for the good of the community.
My husband's family are not church goers, so they can give an incredibly valuable point of view, one that we inside the church often miss.
They are not alone in their understanding that churches demand money, leading to the belief that churches are under the surface, actually (like any other business) just out to make a buck.
That's not quite the message that we, as Christians, are hoping to share with the world.
'Owing' God
I have known a church that taught tithing was 'owed' to God, and also that regular giving over and above the 10% mark was expected, as 'offerings'. To gain membership to this church each person had to sign a document agreeing to several principles the church believed, one of which was tithing and giving.
I can see why non-churched people would think churches are after their money.
Giving is joyful
As Acts chapter 20, verse 35 says 'It is more blessed to give than to receive' and giving is a beautiful thing. However if we see tithing as an obligation or something owed to God, where is the joy?
Once tithing is a requirement then it is no longer a gift, no longer an expression of love.
It becomes a payment for work done, a fulfilment of obligation under a contract for employment; similar to my expectation that I will be paid for doing my job.
In a previous piece I wrote that placing God under obligation is a risky business and I would rather give and receive gifts, without expectations or obligations.
Radical giving in the New Testament
The New Testament gives us a wonderful picture of generosity and extravagant giving, without anywhere insisting that Christians owe God 10%.
We are taught in the New Testament to share what we have with those who do not have. We are taught that what we have is not really ours and all we have is to be used for the advancement of the kingdom of God.
We are told to lay our very lives on the altar and a 10% tithe begins to look quite pitiful.
As 1 Timothy chapter 6, verse 18 says 'Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share'
Those of us who follow Christ long to please him and bring glory to him and we can do that with our giving.
Today's radical giving
We all know missionaries who have given up everything in order to share the gospel. I know of one couple who in their old age came back to New Zealand with nothing. The radical giving of themselves left them with nothing materially. But in another gesture of radical giving they were provided with a house rent free to live in for their retirement and the remainder of their lives.
In my personal life I have been blessed by radical giving. A couple once gave their entire week's pay to us when we were struggling financially. They put aside their own desires and needs for that week and lived off of their savings so that we could be supported.
I know mothers who have given up jobs in order to give themselves radically and fully to their children's upbringing.
There are numerous other examples of giving that I won't list here, but giving is truly good and it is one way in which the early church showed their love for each other.
How better to bring glory to God than to embrace an entire life of radical giving, remembering that all we have is from him anyway?
Kara Greening trained in biology, works in chemistry and wonders about the physics of the TARDIS in Doctor Who. She is passionate about exploring her faith and being wholehearted in life. She is married to a primary school teacher and they have two lovely cats.
Kara Greening's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/kara-greening.html