Setting: The following conversation took place during a dinner party in the summer of 2005, at the home of a magazine editor in a DC suburb in Northern Virginia. One of the guests, N, is a woman living in the same suburb. Another guest, R is the rector of St Marks, Highland MD. The conversation wandered freely for some time among many topics. The woman, a thoughtful and devout Episcopalian, began to ask some serious questions of the rector.
N. Have you given any thought as to why Christianity is exploding in Africa yet seems so weak in the United States?
R. Yes, quite a bit. I'm very interested in this.
N. Why do you think it is?
R. Well, I think a big part of it is this: Africa is very poor, and has enormous problems: famine, war, AIDS. Historically, people who know they're in trouble have usually been more open to the Gospel. They are more likely to be open to a spiritual transformation.
N. But why would Christianity seem to be weakening in the United States?
R. The wealthy and powerful have a harder time seeing their own needs. Our wealth can blind us to our spiritual impoverishment. Often we see less to be gained by spiritual transformation, and potentially much to lose.
N. So what's the solution?
R. Tithing.
N. What??
R. Tithing.
N. You're serious?
R. Yes. Tithing gets right to the heart of our problem. We, the wealthy and powerful have a problem, but we often don't know it. Tithing touches us at the very place where we are most fearful: our potential loss of wealth.
N. Do you actually know anybody who tithes?
R. Yes.
N. Who?
R. Well, for starters, my wife and I have been tithing for 31 years.
N. 31 years!!?
-- silence --
N. Um... this sounds like Jesus talking to the rich, young ruler.
R. I agree. I doubt very much that Jesus ever told the poor to go sell their possessions and give to the poor. I'm not sure what relevance that story has for the Africans. But for Americans, this story is very important. This story can save Americans from their comfortable security and spiritual apathy. But we're too afraid of it. Our fear of loss is huge.
N. I've been thinking that I should do more...
R. Well, it's not really a matter of what we "should" do. This isn't a matter of what we "ought" to do. It's more a matter of what we desperately need.
N. Need?
R. Yes. Tithing is a solution offered for the spiritual needs of the wealthy. It's not really about fund-raising for ministry. WE need to tithe for our own spiritual good.
N. Well, I've been thinking that I should start tithing... because after all, God will supply my needs.
R. Maybe. Maybe he will, maybe he won't. I think we're better off following the example of Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego. Remember what they said? "Even if the Lord doesn't save us from the firey furnace, we will not bow down to you." They were more interested in being faithful to the Lord than in the Lord's rescuing them.
N. So you're saying God might not supply all my needs if I tithe?
R. I'm saying that our spiritual needs are more important than our financial needs. The Africans believe this, and the Church is exploding. We Americans don't believe this, and the Church is weakening. We're too wealthy. We're more concerned with protecting our wealth than in spiritual power. And we desperately need to tithe, as the first step in saving us from our financial fear.