Tweet

EMAIL

PRINT

Comments (1)

Related articles and links |  1 of 2

Analyses of giving, such as Christianity Today's "Scrooge Lives!" [December], rarely seem to take into account giving that is not recognized by the IRS. I suspect that this far exceeds deductible giving. Many of my friends are helping adult children whose pathetic salaries with no benefits are too small to support them. Just recently, a friend lent a truck to an unemployed man for months. People are taking in friends and relatives when jobs are lost. Immigrants are sending money home. There is a massive transfer of wealth that is simply unaccounted for by the IRS. I am not saying we can't be more generous, but we may not be as stingy as it appears.

Patricia Hunt
Staunton, Virginia

Rob Moll's excellent cover story touched on all the important aspects of giving. One factor not clearly mentioned is the effect a personal connection can have. Knowing a missionary, the child of a friend, or someone in a personally experienced ministry is a strong impetus for giving.

This is true even in the church: Appeals for the "church budget" leave one cold compared with the needs of someone known. But, like Abraham, we are God's friends too. Gratefulness for his friendship and all that it entails is what should ultimately determine giving.

Richard Trinity
Red Oak, Iowa

The studies cited in "Scrooge Lives!" base their numbers on after-tax earnings, but to truly give of our first fruits, we ought to be giving from our before-tax earnings. Uncle Sam usually takes his share before we get our paychecks, so it is easy to think that the money in our hands is the sum of what we have earned. But God wants our first and our best; therefore, our tithe should be based on our gross earnings, not our net.

Of course, the statistics on American Christian giving would be more abysmal if we figured it this way—but at least it would be a more accurate portrayal of our disobedience.

Elisia Harvey
Alda, Nebraska

Proportional giving — whether 10, 5, or 2 percent — is a good policy. Many Christians support tithing until economic realities force them to do otherwise. To me, it seems far better to ask believers to commit to a preferred level of giving and to increase that over time as their faith and commitment grow. I have known persons who for years have faithfully made the same small contribution to church or charity. Others started off making a small contribution, but have increased it incrementally over time. Both are to be commended. While I believe all believers in Christ should give, I am not surprised that some can only manage to give a small percentage, since giving is a reflection of our knowledge of and relationship with Christ, which most Christians are still growing into.

Steve Skeete
E-mail

In "The Advent of Humility" [December], Tim Keller says many significant things about the centrality of humility in the gospel-centered life — and its elusiveness. But I question whether we are actually seeing through humility-sharpened eyes when we join hands with our society by accusing the Religious Right of "self-righteousness and pride."

What makes them guiltier than others? Clearly, this indictment is provoked by their outspokenness on moral issues. Keller seems to associate this outspokenness with "moralism" and "self-righteousness," but it is possible to be outspoken and humble at the same time. Jesus certainly was. Indeed, we all struggle with moralism and will continue to do so until Christ returns. However, moral indignation is a Christian thing

next page... |  1 of 2

February 2009, Vol. 53, No. 2