Giving for Christians is a 'heart issue,' speaker tells Tusculum College crowd

Though Christians continually carry on "in-house debates" about tithing and other matters related to giving, the crux of New Testament teaching is that "giving is a heart issue," a speaker in the Theologian-in-Residence series at Tusculum College said on Tuesday (Feb. 18).

Michael Smith, a Knoxville resident who is area director for Crown Financial Ministries for Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee, spoke on the themes of ownership and stewardship from a Biblical perspective. He was the third of four speakers taking part in the month-long lecture series sponsored by Tusculum College and the Holston Presbytery. This year's series looks at personal and business finances from a Christian perspective.

On the issue of tithing -- usually defined as the giving of one-tenth of income for Christian ministry, typically to a local church -- Christians hold varying views, Smith noted, and strong arguments are given from various perspectives.

Wherever particular Christians stand on that issue, Smith said that a New Testament principle overarching all is that "when the heart is right," giving becomes natural. Smith noted the New Testament account of Christ praising a widow who gave a tiny amount that was all she possessed, declaring she had given more than many around her who gave much larger gifts and tithes, including Pharisees who "tithed right to the mint leaf." In the New Testament, "the attitude is more important than the amount," Smith said.

Though Americans are taxed at a high rate and have many expenses, we also enjoy the highest standard of living in history, Smith said. Many times it would be possible for Christians to give more money for ministry, charity, and so on, if they would bring their own spending under better control.

The principle of contentment as taught by the Apostle Paul is often missed in American society, which emphasizes the gathering of possessions, Smith said. Many times, Americans are more concerned about the impressions of others than about whether they are handling their finances in a godly manner.

Statistically, Smith said, the average head-of-household American pays $1,000 a year in credit card interest. Citing a hypothetical church with 100 heads of households, Smith noted that if only half of those individuals paid off their credit card debts and transferred to the church what they had been paying in interest, the church would receive an additional $50,000 annually. If Christians gave as they should, ministries would enjoy a surplus of financial support, meaning new and deeper ministries could be created, such as additional foreign missionary programs, he said.

The Apostle Paul wrote that he learned to be content through the deprivations and sufferings that accompanied his ministry, everything from shipwrecks to attempts upon his life, Smith noted. Modern American Christians, on the other hand, often fail to be content despite abundant possessions, and are often resistant to giving. At times Christians end up asking, in effect, "How close to greed can I come without stepping over the line? What is the bare minimum I need to tip God to keep in his good graces?" Smith said.

In his talk, he further outlined the way that Crown Financial Ministries works and teaches, discussed the problems of extensive consumer debt, and answered various questions from the audience.

The final Theologian-in-Residence lecture will be on Feb. 25. Chuck Bentley of the Crown organization will focus on Nehemiah's ministry plan.

A lunch in the Tusculum College cafeteria is provided at no cost to those attending the Theologian-in-Residence series. Persons planning to attend are asked to contact the office of Mark Stokes, vice president for administration at Tusculum, at 1-800-729-0256, extension 7638, preferably by the Friday preceding the Tuesday session they will attend. This will enable the college to ensure sufficient seating and meals.