Challenge to Send Gross Tithe to Samaritan’s Purse
Glenn Reynolds today compiled an extensive list of Katrina-aid charities from the suggestions of various bloggers and Instapundit readers.
I encourage Christians everywhere to dedicate a month’s worth (or more) of Gross Tithes to Samaritan’s Purse.
I’m defining the term “Gross Tithe” not as a tenth of your gross income, but as the difference between a tenth of your net income and a tenth of your gross income.
You would think that a Katrina donation should just be a gift, something over and above what you give to your church. Probably so. But let’s be honest, studies like this and these show that less than 10% of Christians even bother to tithe. Those that do, whether they tithe on gross or net, are making regular charitable donations to an organization that then (hopefully) infuses funds into worthy causes in the community and abroad. For many of these consistent supporters, there’s simply not a lot of discretionary charitable donations left to give.
So what to do when disaster strikes? If you simply re-direct your regular tithe when a tsumani or hurricane hits, you are simply taking from one worthy cause and giving to another.
Enter the Gross Tithe. Give your Net Tithe — 10% of your take-home pay — to your church. Treat your Gross Tithe — the difference between 10% of your net income and 10% of your gross income — as a discretionary tithe, and send it where the Spirit leads. That way, you’re able to respond to disaster with compassion and without unintended adverse impact on your church’s regular activities.
My challenge to Christians is to dedicate a month’s worth (or more) of Gross Tithes to Samaritan’s Purse for aid to victims of Katrina. I’m sure that the major charities get a ton of money right after a disaster, but that the donations trickle off much earlier than does the need. So set aside a discretionary, flexible tithe that can be sent to where it is needed for a certain period of time and that can then be re-directed when a greater need arises.
By the way, there are arguments on both sides of the question of whether Christians are to tithe on net or gross income. I’ve always heard that you can’t out-give God, but let’s be honest, how many of us have had the faith to try? Not me, but I do know that a fair amount of giving has resulted in a greater amount of blessing.
For such a time as this?
