I wrote an article a while ago called Tithing in the New Testament and in light of the post I put up yesterday about tithing while in debt, I just had to share something I found. I am not sure how I haven’t heard of this until now, but apparently, “LifeChurch.tv, a multi-site, media-intensive church out of Oklahoma City, encourages testing God. They not only advocate such testing, they back it up with an unorthodox guarantee.” They have been running this program for 11 years!
Test me now in this…
The article I found was called The Tithing Challenge over at ChristianityToday.com. In it you find that this unconventional church puts their money where their mouth is – or more appropriately – God’s mouth 
. They challenge the congregation to tithe for three months and if at the end of the 3 months the participants are not convinced of God’s faithfulness, they can get a full refund of every dollar they have given, no questions asked.
It is, of course, based off of the Malachi 3:10 verse that (as far as anyone has found) is the only Biblical encouragement to “test God.”
Malachi 3:10-12 (NIV)
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.
The results
While I have seen God’s faithfulness as I have tithed, I would figure that some people would look at God’s provision as luck or coincidence. To my surprise the amount of people who requested a refund was surprisingly low… “From the recent big push, five participants out of the 550 who signed up requested their tithe be returned.”
Five people out of 550. That is less than 1% of people who took the challenge!
Tithing works?
I honestly think the tithing challenge idea is a pretty good one. Before I started tithing, the main reason that I didn’t was because I didn’t think I could give up 10% of my income and still meet all my needs. If I would have been offered something like this I probably would have jumped on it.
But as I think about it, the whole challenge is kind of a faith-transfer. The pastor is so convinced that what Malachi says is true that he is stepping out in faith for his congregation. While I admire him for doing it, I am not sure if that is ultimately a good thing for the congregation, since it is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). But, on the other hand, if it gets people to see that God is faithful, that is good isn’t it?
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
My church also offers this challenge and hasn’t had one person ask for their tithe back in several years.
But, I still struggle with tithing because I use my business to minister to people. Tithing reducing my ministry while increase another ministry. My pastor tithes to his church, but how does that effect anything because he also decides how all the money is spent. But, how could he ask us to tithe if he isn’t.
I’m not against tithing and believe that tithing has helped increase the faith of many people and helps fund many churches, but Jesus went beyond the tithe and gave everything and asks us to do the same.
Offen times tithing becomes a barrior to Christians that either don’t understand it or use it against God to do nothing else for the kingdom of God.
I don’t agree with this church. The verse they’re citing is important, but it’s not addressed to me; it’s addressed to the entire nation of Israel. Indeed, we the Church can apply it to ourselves; but I the Christian cannot apply it to myself.
I’m also a little leery of the wording of that guarantee. It’s not easy to come up to a pastor and tell him you’ve decided that God isn’t faithful… If the church really wanted to put its money where its mouth was, it would simply offer your money back if you don’t get what you consider a fair return.
And frankly, I think that’s silly. But again, the whole idea is based on a misreading of an important promise; as if God promised to give earthly wealth to everyone who gives money to Him.
Our church did a similar challenge last October. We’ve been tithing ever since and its proven to be a blessing for us. It can be hard to convince yourself that its helping you, afterall, that 10 percent could go a long way, but when you take it out first you never miss it. Since we started tithing we’ve both increased our salary, been better about budgeting, and have just felt the blessings in our life and marriage. God has been faithful and we have not been in need. You can call it coincidence, but I look forward to the many more years of having the Lord provide for me and my family.
I don’t think God is to be tested. God is to be obeyed. I tithe right now, but I’ve got 60K in debt that I am paying down. I should be out of debt by March of 2012 if everything goes according to the debt reduction plan that my wife and I are on. I don’t check my reliance on Christ at the door because I have debt.
It seems to me that testing God on money creates a vibe of “If I give you money, I expect that I will be rewarded in some way…financially.” God isn’t a slot machine. Tithing is an act of sacrifice. It’s not something I do with the hope that some gift will present itself as a result of this. I’ve heard of this approach before. I believe it’s generally used for seekers – new people to church, non-Christians. It’s used so that a) the Church collects money for God, b) the person tithing has a “spiritual experience” when they tithe and get some kind of “reward” back. Their spiritual growth is predicated on some sort of money encounter as the result of tithing. We have to be careful here because it can be manipulative. Also, if the person is not rewarded for tithing with a large income tax return, etc., there is the danger that the person will fall away before conversion. And isn’t conversion the most important thing here? God is not a bank. The Church isn’t a stock exchange. It’s important for me to not cheapen his glory.
I believe God wants us to tithe so we can develop a heart for giving. God desires us to have a spirit of a giver whether we receive a reward or not. However, He does promise us that “He will open up the windows of heaven and pour out blessings we don’t have room to receive.” So while our tithing should not be based on “okay God, I gave now gimmy, gimmy, gimmy,” I think it’s is perfectly fine to accept that promise and believe He will bless us.
I don’t think that church is being manipulative, I think its an “out of the box” way to reach non-tithers. Less than 1% tells me it is working and if it’s a bible based church…they are teaching that when we tithe we go into covenant with Him. That we are telling him “Thank You” for ALL you have done!
I can see how such a challenge would be successful, but I’m not sure it’s biblical. Deuteronomy 6:16 says, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” God says that He is faithful time and time again in the Bible, and His faithfulness is not dependent on whether or not I think that He is faithful.
Also, how does one determine if God has been faithful? Maybe I haven’t seen many tangible blessings from tithing, but maybe the church has given to the poor and needy out of what I’ve given, and so others have been blessed by it. That is proving God’s faithfulness, but I’m not seeing the fruit of it necessarily.
My dad is a pastor. One Sunday when preaching on tithing he said,
“Would you be willing to tithe for 1 month if I promised to pay any bills that you were short for? (Most people nodded yes) Isn’t it funny that you would trust me, knowing exactly what my salary is, but not God?”
I’ve never forgotten that.
Great comments everyone – Nikki, you clarified one of the points I was trying to make – perfect – thanks…
@Chelsea and David
regarding your comments about not testing God, the Malachi verse does show God Himself saying to test Him in regards to this – right?
Putting God to the test – Malachi 3:10 interestingly does say… “…test me in this,”
I don’t think we are to jump off buildings to test God (Luke 4:12), but He encourages us to follow Him, in faith, not knowing what the results are going to be, and trust they will be good. The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14 comes to mind of fear versus courage. I wonder if that is a two-way test?
Hello Bob,
Thank you so much for all the enlightenment!! Actually I’m really one of those who is still having a hard time giving what is due to GOD. I’ve attended a seminar in Financial stewardship and I really understand how important tithing is but then I really don’t know how to start. I think the tithing challenge would be a gateway for me. God bless
Hazel
I’m going to take back part of my criticism. I do think that this church is drastically misrepresenting God’s promise, with the result that some people will fall away; but at the same time, what I didn’t take the time to check is whether this Church is ministering to the people who ask for their money back, and how those people are doing.
Actually, I think a better church program would be, “we will help you financially if you’re tithing in spite of your financial trouble.” This seems more in line with the Church’s calling to help the poor, and less in line with a marketing program. This help must, of course, include financial counseling (but must also include giving money).
This is the first I have heard of a church doing this. I think this is a great idea. I think statistics show something like less than 10% of Christians actually tithe. It saddens me that Christians refuse to support the church monetarily. We’ll spend our money on lots of things that have no effect on the kingdom of Heaven, but when the church asks us to tithe we get offended.
Malachi actually says that the whole nation was under a curse because of it. I wonder if that same curse exist in some way today. We’ve seen what’s been happening in the financial world just in our country over the past year.
I think that many of you are kind of missing the point of what this church is offering. I think that what this church is really offering through this challenge is the ability for people to give to God what is God’s. Many people, in my opinion, don’t tithe because they are affraid of how it will affect their finances. If they have the option of being able to get back their money, they are more willing to part with it in the first place.
I don’t neccessarily think that people avoid asking for money back just because they felt that they were blessed, but because they realize that they feel better about their spiritual walk when they are in accordance with God.
My biggest caution in tithing has been my concern that we wouldn’t be able to cover all of our bills, but I have been convicted to step out in faith. I have to admit, as selfish as it sounds, an offer like this may have convinced me to tithe much sooner. I think people that take this challenge realize how much more faithful they really are by tithing and, hence, don’t ask for the money back.
Just a thought
My husband and I have been tithing over and above 10% for three years now, while also giving our time to the Lord by volunteering at local ministries. We attend church 2-3 times a week, read the bible daily and we wont even eat a snack without saying grace. Yet every time we tithe it feels like we are punished for it. We are not paid back, our bank account will go into the negative for it. We keep trying thinking its a test of our faith and after 3 years of trying we are starting to lose faith. Any suggestions? Why is this happening?
Steph,
As someone who counsels people at our church in our financial ministry, and am a planner as well, I can relate to your story on many levels. Tithing and wise personal financial managment work hand in hand. I suggest, if you havn’t already, organize your financial affairs, complete a financial fact-finder, and arrange to meet with someone who can look over your situation. Someone who is perhaps a trusted Christian experienced financial professional friend or advisor of yours (CPA, CFP) or a CROWN budget counselor, if you church has them.
Steph, I’m very sorry to hear that you’re having financial difficulties. The first thing I’d think of is that one of the most worked-out topics in the New Testament on the subject of the Church is how it’s supposed to help people who are having financial problems.
If you’re having financial problems, your church should be 100% willing to help you, since you’ve obviously been a faithful member. If they do not help you, they should counsel you (in order to explain what they think you’re doing wrong). If they do neither, you need to help your church change so that it will become obedient to the Scriptures — possibly by switching churches.
Kent Irwin above has some great specific suggestions. Who knows — perhaps in the process of finding help for yourself you’ll be a blessing to your church.
Hi,
I’ve been battling to find a Bible text where it says we have to write off debt in our third year of business. I read this text by accident a year ago and it has always stuck in my mind. As I have a business and would like to obey Him when He gives me an instruction, it would be wonderful if someone could perhaps point me in the right direction? I need to make sure I’m doing the right thing, and understanding the text correctly.
Any advice?
Maggie, that’ll be a tough one to find; I can’t think of any three-year business cycles in the Law, and the New Testament doesn’t cover any of that. It’s possible that you’re thinking of the 7-year Jubilee cycle, but that applies only to native Jews (born and converted) in the Land; it doesn’t apply outside of that, nor does it apply to gentiles sojourning in the Land, even worshipers of God.
You can make this part of the Law apply to you by converting to Judaism; you may be able to find a messianic rabbi willing to discuss that (I wouldn’t know). I think Paul warned against this, though.
Who would ever ask for their tithe back? That sounds ludicrous.
Interesting…the Pastor Tithes to his church but does the church Tithe? Our Pastors’ tithe to our church and then Tithe to there church overseers.
I have to tell you that the Word of God cant be picked and pulled from and taken out of context. The whole Word is Gods will, every single verse. I disagree with the fact that tithing was Just for Isreal in the old testament. Jesus himself says in the new testament to “give to cesar what is ceasars and to God what is Gods.” We all need to look at our finances, spouses, kids, and jobs as Gods and that we are just stewards over them. Getting that mindset allowed me to see that if God asks for 10% of 100% and its his anyway, give it back to him and he will bless you! I have been blessed with food when i had none in my fridge as well as gas in my tank and all i did was give God what was already His! Tithing works and in this economy you CANT AFFORD NOT TO TITHE!
Well, we have stopped tithing since march and things are getting better. Now we just “joyfully give” when we can. Before we would tithe when we couldn’t afford it and it always got us in trouble with our bank. I would get so upset when people said “tithe and God will bless you” because it seemed to be the opposite for us. The more we would tithe, the worse our month was. Now if we don’t have extra money to give God we give him our time instead and volunteer.
I read “David’s” response and I agree wholeheartedly with him. You don’t give, expecting something in return.
Jesus put Judas in charge of the money… an indicator of what money meant to Jesus. “The poor should be proud of their high position.”
…also… using the fact that a very small percentage asked for their money back borders on disingenuous at best. Few people would go to a pastor and ask for their money back.
The New Testament says to give what you decide to give, WITHOUT COMPULSION, for God loves a cheerful giver.
The church should have faith that God will provide for its needs, without coming up with gimmicks and other methods of compulsion to motivate the congregation to give.
I know I’m a little late on this conversation, but this is a topic I am very passionate about. I have tithed ever since I could remember, even waiting tables as a teenager, I put back 10% on tips, paycheck, everything. All glory to God that this has just always come naturally to me. However, I stumbled across this message forum researching Bible verses about finances. I just want to know more about what God says in His Word (which is still for us today, very relevant, and very real, every part of it). Because, like Steph, I have been confused from time to time about why my bank account would have a negative balance when I tithed. Now I feel like God is dealing with me about being a good steward of the finances. The Bible also says “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” Prov 22:7.” In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has”.Prov 21:20 So, it is actually Biblical to NOT be in debt, to have a savings, or financial margin. These thing would go so far in keeping the bank account out of the negative. That is where I am now, trying to live out ALL of the Biblical instruction as opposed to just that one part where I expect God to be a slot machine despite my stupidity in managing finances. So God gives us so many instructions that help us deal with these things, because He loves us and He doesn’t want us to hurt. The problem is us, not God!
lifechurch.tv has a great sermon series entitled “Margin” the 3rd week talks about financial margin. You can watch it online. I highly recommend it!
God does NOT need our money! This is a test of our heart. God wants us, fully. One way we can show that we are fully trusting in God is by not trusting in money, or a job, or things. Also, as already stated, the tithe is already God’s and technically we are stealing from God when we don’t “return” it to Him. Prov 3:9-10 says “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine”. The tithe is the “firstfruits”, not if you can “afford” it after the bills are payed.
I don’t know about y’all, but even when my bank account was in the negative, I never went hungry, I never had to sleep outside, or not have clothes to wear. And further more, the money was there somehow to pay the overdraft fees at the bank. It didn’t feel good to be overdrawn or have a bill I couldn’t pay or whatever, but God always came through. And if it weren’t for those things, I wouldn’t have learned better management or that God was my source. God uses these things to stretch us and grow us and draw us to Himself. Remember, God wants our hearts.