Readers Write - Christianity Today

Laying Scrooge to Rest

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 HuntStaunton, 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 TrinityRed 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 HarveyAlda, 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 SkeeteE-mail

The Upside of Indignation

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

(Acts 17:16; Mark 3:5; 2 Pet. 2:7).

Perhaps we are playing into the hands of the prevailing culture when we associate moral indignation with self-righteousness and become wrongly de-motivated by this confusion.

Daniel MannNew York, New York

Tim Keller responds:

Thanks for the feedback. Let me clarify what I am saying at the end of my devotional.

My points are: (1) Many evangelicals who are most concerned about the loss of truth are speaking out in such a strident and ungracious way that a great number of people don’t want them to be right. (2) I have seen this lead to many younger Christians abandoning a number of classic evangelical doctrinal positions. That’s not the answer either. (3) There is a way to confront a wrongdoer that is quite pointed and yet exhibits love for truth and for the perpetrator himself. There is also a way to confront that exhibits a personal need to win arguments, demonize and punish, and build up one’s self-image as a courageous person. The first way holds some promise that the person you are confronting will listen and change; the second way holds none at all.

I don’t want anyone to think that since I am calling the church to a humble yet uncompromising stand for classic evangelical truths, that therefore I or my church has arrived at the perfect balance. We simply haven’t.

Compassion Checkup

Many thanks to Kay Warren for challenging us with the “unconscionable disparity” that exists between health care in North America and in many parts of the developing world [“Needed: More Miracles,” December]. With 47 million uninsured people in the U.S., many of our own neighbors don’t have anything but emergency care. When will American Christians decide that quality medical care for those both at home and abroad is a worthy goal?

Steve Manock, M.D.Newport, Tennessee

Kay Warren’s great story drew me into her December article — how could I resist? But the “application” part of her sermon was not the right one.

How about a less guilt-motivated, more love-motivated appeal to get involved in medical missions and political reform, or to give more generously to groups that do provide medical care?

I’ve been a missionary since 1972, and I still don’t know quite how we can change the situation worldwide. But we need to think through the practical steps that readers can and should take. Still, Warren’s was a touching piece that raised awareness for many.

Susan De VriesE-mail

Where Islam and Christianity Diverge

I wholeheartedly agree with Stan Guthrie that the Apostles’ Creed can sharpen our dialogue with Muslims [“All Monotheisms Are Not Alike,” November]. However, he seriously misquoted me.

Guthrie omitted the most important part of my statements, in which I made two important qualifications alongside the positive affirmations I made: (1) Christian and Muslim views of God differ primarily regarding the Fatherhood of God, the Trinity, and especially regardingthe life, teaching, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (2) I believe that Muslims worship the true God. But I also believe that their viewof God falls short of his perfections and beauty as described in the Bible.

Please note that the very doctrines I mention are all part of the Apostles’ Creed.

Rick Love

Former International Director, FrontiersChandler, Arizona

I admired the clear, incisive look at Christianity and Islam in Stan Guthrie’s November column. This was one of the best pieces I have read on the subject. It is important to find common ground for dialogue and understanding among various faiths, but it is also critical to accentuate the truth of the gospel clearly and distinctively as we share Christ’s love with friends of differing religious backgrounds.

W. Scott BrownAnnandale, Virginia