The Purpose of the Tithe

01Aug

Some of you have heard about campmeetings in general and the campmeeting begun by 1827 in which my family has participated since its earliest days. Our campmeeting is called Shingleroof. It's a distinctive and distinguishable as well as particular and peculiar religious culture. 

Participating in Shingleroof literally since before I was born (that is, my first campmeeting was in utero) has formed me in some particular and peculiar ways. It has shaped me into an ecumenical Christian. It has taught me to focus more on the things we as various flavors and types of Christians have in common than on the things about which we disagree. It has taught me the rocking alto parts of many hymns in a paperback hymnal entitled Spiritual Life Songs. It has taught me to listen closely and sometimes for quite a long time to all kinds of sermons.

I heard some very fine sermons during Shingleroof Campmeeting 2024 in the course of a week where there are two full services each day. Over the weekend the Reverend John McGowan of Restoration City Church in Arlington, VA spoke words of love, vulnerability, and welcome. Good news indeed. From Monday evening through Thursday evening, retired United Methodist pastor John Ed Mathison offered a number of old-style sermons with alliterative points. On Tuesday evening, the letter was P, and the subject was tithing. I asked his permission to share a summary with you.

John Ed's points were that tithing should be planned, personal, practiced, proportionate, and purposeful. Just in case we were wondering what he meant by a biblical tithe, he said, he meant 10% of what we report to the IRS. 

He reminded us that tithing is an opportunity to return to God one tenth of all we earn, Yes, God commands it in Malachi 3:8-12 and Jesus emphasizes it in Matthew 23:23. The larger point, however, is that everything we are and have belongs to God. What we do with everything entrusted to our stewardship is our gift to God. There is joy in tithing. And, John Ed reminded us, if we wait to tithe until we truly think we can afford it, we never will. Lastly he said, the purpose of the tithe is to do the work of God--not to make the budget.

St Paul's is in the usual summer slump. Years ago, straddle loans were taken out to get the parish through the summer financially. We aren't taking out any loans, but we are short of cash. If every regular communicant, both year-round and seasonal, tithed a tenth of what they earn through St Paul's we would have no money shortages at all. I will never ask you to do anything I am not doing or willing to do myself. Becky and I invite you to join us in tithing and experience the surprising joy it brings. Pray on it. And God bless you.

Padre's Blog A la Mote
Posted by The Very Reverend Donna S. Mote, PhD

Our 34th rector, Dr Mote, was installed by Bishop Eaton on Saturday, June 5th, 2021.  Prior to joining St Paul's, she served as the Vicar of ATL (Episcopal Chaplain to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport).  With Bishop Robert C. Wright she authored, The Go Guide: 10 Steps for Innovations in Ministry from Luke 10. Beginning in 2016, Donna served on the bishop's staff as Missioner for Engagement and Innovation in the Diocese of Atlanta, to consult on, coach, strategize, support, promote, and provoke innovations in ministry in Middle and North Georgia.  She was also Chaplain to the Georgia State Defense Force and the 76th Support Brigade.

Donna earned degrees from Shorter College (BA), Southern Seminary (MDiv), and Emory University’s Graduate Division of Religion (PhD) and completed Anglican studies at Sewanee: The University of the South. Donna was raised up for ordination by the parish of St Bartholomew’s, Atlanta. She is an Associate of the Order of St Helena.  Donna is married to Rebecca England, and they have two sons, Anderson and Jordan.

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