From David Mackin
My Tiny Book of Tithing:
The Mormons start their little ones tithing when they are very young! Today I researched the subject of tithing on the Mormon book store site deseretbook.com. When I entered the key word “tithing” into the search field, my search produced the following four matches on tithing for children: a tithing bank, a tithing DVD, a tithing trinket and a tithing board book (see below). I called the store to see if they had any other matches on tithing for adults and the gentleman said no, but he was kind enough to offer to do some more research for me to try to find me more materials.
I was also struck by the other products for sale or auction on the site besides the typical books, music and tapes: jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, earrings), art & home, clothing, tickets, auctions, Mormon handicraft, engraved temple mirrors, Salt Lake City temple square folk art puzzle, posterity plates, Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites board game, angel watching over children woven afghan, Genealogical Research Essentials, Register of LDS Church Records, Yoga for Beginners videos, Brigham Young moves, and the Rewards Club.
I’m wondering…once a church movement fully adopts the mentality of the mandatory tithe – even enough to indoctrinate its little ones before they are even old enough to get their first jobs – does such an approach to religion help to lead a church movement to deeper and deeper religious commercialism of all stripes and colors? Do you think that there is any connection between the tithing mentality and religious commercialism?
1
Piggy Bank: Tithing, Mission, Savings
by Lasercrafting
Bank
SKU 4959612
$4.98
2
Tithing: Mariah and the Book Sale
by FHE on DVD
DVD Video
SKU 4956690
$12.99
3
My Tithing Bank
by Ringmasters (Publisher)
Trinket
SKU 4685205
$3.95
4
My Tiny Book of Tithing
by Marion Passey and Ben Craner (Illustrator)
Board Book
SKU 4386583
$4.95
SKU 4959612
$4.98
2
Tithing: Mariah and the Book Sale
by FHE on DVD
DVD Video
SKU 4956690
$12.99
3
My Tithing Bank
by Ringmasters (Publisher)
Trinket
SKU 4685205
$3.95
4
My Tiny Book of Tithing
by Marion Passey and Ben Craner (Illustrator)
Board Book
SKU 4386583
$4.95
Hi David,
The relationship between tithing to the IC and commercialism of all things “Christian” has puzzled me for a long time. One of the ways the Lord has addressed the tithe subject with me, is to examine not only what the tithe was (food), but also how it was used (to support Aaron and Levi for their temple work, becaus they didn’t have land of their own to grow food).
One of the things I’ve considered, as a musician with original songs, is the link between the the tithe and Levi from whom came the temple musicians in Israel. If you read the OT, the tribe of Levi, served in the temple day and night – that ‘tabernacle of David’ we often talk about as being a place of worship and praise 24×7 – was principally the work of the tribe of Levi – the musicians … IF we contemporize that, the modern ‘tribe of Levi’ are all those musically gifted believers who are the so-called ‘worship leaders’ – psalmists, instrumentalists, singers, dancers, etc.
There is a real sense in which the tithe was God’s ‘endowment for the worship arts’ …
However, since I have written so much on the tithe subject, and since I am also principally a musician in the body of Christ, I don’t speak much on this issue less people think I’m trying to re-direct the ‘tithe’ from pastors and institutions, to Christian musicians and other inspirational artists.
There is a part of me that is deeply saddened to see brothers and sisters funnelling money into cathedrals and million dollar ministries, rather than helping christian musicians, artists, authors, bring their creative works of the Lord to fruition and make them available to the body of Christ for free. You see, I think the gifts of the church would be better used to fund the creativity of God, whereby we could fairly fill the world with music and art and worship, rather than pay for buildings and salaries of pastor and staff.
It’s kind of troubling to me, that in order to foist the tithe doctrine off on the church today, several twists of scripture are required. For example, we twist scripture from what was tithed (food) to money. We port from OT to NT. We create a new priesthood (ministers/pastors) from the old priesthood (Aaron/Levi). But is the translation of priesthoods really correct? Aaron and his sons offered the sacrifices, but it was Levi (the musicians) who led the worship and brought song, dance, to Israel before God. In the modern translation of the tithe, Levi (the musicians, dancers, singers, etc.) have been left out.
And so, since in effect the portion of the tithe allocated for the support of Levi (the musicians, etc.) has not been given them, the whole realm of the arts as you mentioned, has had to turn to commercialism to foot the bill for the production thereof, and thereby be a system of alternative support for Christian artisans.
Where it has been difficult to me is, at the same time I have heard the Lord say to me very very specifically, that I am not to sell my music or articles in any way, shape or form. That they are to be given away freely. He Has impressed the scripture as a rhema scripture for me: “Freely ye have received (from me), Freely give to others”.
I’ve given away several thousand CDs in the last 5 years, because the Father has moved me to do so. I can count on one hand the number of people who have donated to make giving them away possible. It is a great private frustration to be an artist and author, to watch believers take for free that which I have been instructed to give freely, knowing all the while they are lining the pockets of hirelings and institutions who continue to devour them for profit.
And I have reached the point like Paul – where by God I will not take anyones money now – and know that God is using me as witness to the dispicable stewardship of the body where it comes to supporting the artists God has inspired.
Christian / Mormon ‘commercialism’ is just an outlet for all the musicians, artists, and creative people of God, made to worship Him through the arts, who are NOT being given their portion. Please see Nehemiah 13:10-11 – what I am speaking of is not new at all. It’s been going on for thousands of years.
There is nothing new under the sun, bro.
Jack
Perhaps.
I think the more disturbing association is that between a church that is active in fundraising and the pressure brought about to donate.
The more they get, the more they want.
I would LOVE to see a church service where the collection is simply done without any talking about it, reading of passages regarding titheing, etc.
In my opinion, what most churches do is to promise heaven (Or at least an improved life on earth) in exchange for tithes.
Today at CLF I timed how much time was spent in talking about tithes. The total time spent immediately before the collection was 8 minutes.
The total time talking about the declining church finances, blessing those faithful enough to financially support the church, budget cuts due to lack of income, etc., was in excess of 12 minutes.
Interesting, isn’t it?
*Shaking head*
You know, you don’t HAVE to go to that church, there’s plenty more on the harbor….I’m sure there’s one somewhere around that would meet your perfect and righteous and God fearing expectations…..
BTW, have you been to walmart lately? The mission?
Tell me, RH, would you consider yourself to be a GOOD PERSON?
Kind of defensive, aren’t you? (LOL)
But let’s ask the really important questions….can one now buy the special underwear online?
In all seriousness, though, I feel like the evangelical/fundamentalists should take a closer look at what the LDS church is saying and doing…because it’s really not that different from the evangelical/fundamentalist agenda at all. LDSer-s don’t believe in the trinity, they have crackers and water for communion, and they have some extra books counted in the canon of scripture. Big deal. They still talk about Father, Son, and Spirit (just as three distinct entities doing the same work….potato, potato, semantics stuff in the end, though I’ve certainly stayed up ’til 4am arguing about it…and ended the argument by saying, “I don’t think we actually are disagreeing.”), some mainline churches use white grape juice with peach flavor or real wine (which is just as different from our favorite watered-down Concord as the water is, really), and if you go to MFI, “Interpreting the Symbols and Types” and various other volumes are believed and practiced as the holy writ even if they’re not named as such. The Mormons have a history of racism, misogyny, and homophobia, they come up with snappy pretend swears (“mother trucker”, “got down sat on a bench”)….and they own Wal-Mart and Albertsons. They’re also quite a lot better at serving the people they’re trying to proselytize than most evangelicals I know, and they actually bother to learn the language of the people that they’re working with (more than I can say for most Americans, for sure…though the LDS missionaries in Kecskemet had pretty awful accents, even if their vocabulary was pretty big).
C’mon, folks, the gang’s all here. We’re all just one big, happy, capitalist, Republican family.
So, do they call it a merger when the businesses have 501(c)(3) status?
i’ve been fortunate enough to have worked with a few mormons (not mortons) in my day. they have a good thing going for themselves…
THE TOP 5 PLUSSES OF BEING MORMON
1. you will always have someone to help you move.
2. you will not have to tell your children about the “birds and the bees” until they are 20. (unless you live in utah… then you’ll have to tell them about your cousins’ birds & bees)
3. when someone calls you a “morton”, you are not offended.
4. your tabernacle is always clean.
5. every monday, tuesday, thursday, friday, and saturday you get to go clean your tabernacle!!!
I read an article over at Slice of Laodicea about how Rick Warren taught church leaders about financial principles. He said that when church members’ finances are in order, they are better able to give to the church.
http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/archives/2006/12/rick_warren_exp.php
CBC is aware of Saddleback’s (Warren) programs because they use their Celebrate Recovery. Is it any surprise that CBC is now teaching a financial class to members (at a cost of course). I wonder if their motive is getting more tithe money — because these Christian financial programs always stress tithing.
I think it’s great to help people learn to budget and spend wisely. But when I see classes like these offered, and barely any classes offered in areas where the church should be teaching their people (like principles of prayer or worship — or basic doctrine so you can recognize the difference between Mormon theology and orthodox Christianity) — well then there’s a problem.
You don’t think it’s because better budgeting puts more money in their coffers do you? Nah.
Oh yeah, speaking of the “Slice” blog — our friend Jonah has caught their eye:
The whole article is found at:
http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/archives/2006/12/faith_forward_s.php
6. You never have mis-matched underwear. :-0
Anna: thanks for the link. I actually rather like the Slice of Laodicea. I obviously take a much more liberal approach to the Bible than they do. But the blog does seem to notice a lot of the BS coming out of so many megachurches.
And here is Jonah’s most recent blog: Makes for rather entertaining reading.
http://faithcafe.blogspot.com/
A Church’s Footprint in the CommunityÂ
(An article about a church tithing to its community and making a “footprint” in its community.)
http://groups.google.com/group/aardvarks-library/web/a-churchs-footprint-in-the-community?hl=en