TITHES and OFFERINGS, 2

So, what is a tithe? According to the Law of Moses this was one tenth of the best of what was grown, earned or collected. The offering was brought to the Tabernacle every three years as an offering to God, and especially, as an act of freewill - an act of love for God rather than as a payment. Here one may see the true nature of tithing. Although the amount was prescribed according to what God said to Moses, the real essence of the tithe was that it was an offering made as an act of free will and love.11 The blessing was not in what was brought, but in the spirit in which it was given. God reminds one that He is constantly weighing up the state of one’s heart and sees those who are greedy or covetous as stealing from Him.12 Furthermore, the great blessings of the Lord are withheld from those who are lacking in generosity of spirit, for their hearts are neither contrite nor filled with love.

Having looked at tithes, one also needs to remember that a generous spirit and heart filled with love is not restricted to tri-annual tithing, but extends to daily acts of giving.13 So we come to the issue of offerings. An offering is what accompanies our prayers. It is a sacrifice given from the heart, rather than a donation which can be construed as a payment for some service or act. This offering can take many forms: money, candles, gifts, bequests or whatever else the heart desires.

Giving from one’s self is an act of love. It is the external expression of the state of one’s heart.14 It is to this act of love that God responds.15 We teach our children that God is love16 and that in doing acts of kindness we express our love. We show that God lives within us not in an abstract, theoretical way, but as a real, living Presence.

Consequently, the third important lesson is that one must be able to adapt the knowledge of the past to our own lives today.

Tithing, as recorded in the Old Testament, is not forgotten in the modern world. Many Christian denominations continue to give one tenth of their income to the Church for its needs. Other denominations have a system of weekly donations such as envelope giving or even direct debit facilities. In Australia, our parishes have not developed any form of providing parishioners with an opportunity to make regular donations. Hence, we rely on plate collections, candle sales and occasional donations to provide financial viability for our parishes.

Since the Church does not compel anyone to make an offering but waits upon the expression of the heart, often people have no feelings whatsoever to make an offering, or see it as a donation given according to the loose change in one’s pocket. This is the sad reality of modern, consumer living where our priorities are geared towards the acquisition of things, rather than towards expressing our love through giving.17 Our parishes suffer a bare existence because we have ignored the law of tithing but have not replaced it with any adequate means of supporting the Church. We lament the fact that we have not established our own church schools, cemeteries, youth facilities - that we appear poorer than other religious denominations - but the responsibility for this lies in our own hearts. For we had the opportunity to give, but we were (and perhaps are) lacking in love.

Yet all is not lost. Like any other Christian endeavour, each person has the opportunity to make a decision which will reflect one’s inner being. Parishioners can effect a change in parish life by becoming actively involved in the parish. Too often people become complacent and are comfortable with the status quo. New minds and hearts are rarely complacent and can play a lively and revitalising role in the parish.

Old Testament tithes are, although more prescriptive, yet similar to the membership dues which are mentioned in our Normal Parish By- Laws.18 This annual subscription is the judicial link of a parishioner to the parish. Too often one thinks that if one attends church then one is a member. In fact, one may attend church and be a worshipper, but to be a member, one needs to formally register, pay the annual subscription, and assume the spiritual and legal responsibilities of being a member.19

The purpose of our Normal Parish By-Laws is to involve the laity in the daily running of the parish. Whilst this does not include encroaching upon the spiritual life of the parish, it does give parishioners an opportunity to accept some ownership of the material aspects of parish life. But, with ownership also comes responsibility. This responsibility is first and foremost, for the material wellbeing of the parish - just as responsibility in the Old Testament was for the wellbeing of the Tabernacle, and later, the Temple.

Nor is the concept of offerings a thing of the past. Many sincere Orthodox people, especially young parishioners and newly arrived migrants, have little understanding of the reasons for making an offering when they ask the priest to perform some form of private service, i.e. wedding, funeral, moleben, panikhida, house blessing, etc.