poverty, needy, tithe?

What is poverty and how do we confront it? Our answer will depend largely on our culture. Even more so, our answers will depend on our economic and social class within the local and global community. But our question remains with a bit of a twist, what is real poverty and how do we as Christians confront it.

In an age where our Christian faith has become a synchronistic version of western interpretations of Yeshua’s teachings with the American Dream and capitalism, answering that question can be difficult. It will serve us well to be reminded of what Yeshua said about who we are. He said it is by your love (agapao) for one another and your love (agapao) for others that will define you as my disciples. Agapao is an ancient Greek word for love denoting self-sacrifice for others, a type of love that puts others first at all costs. Yeshua went so far as to say that “no one has greater love (agapao) than a person who lays down his life for his friends.” Adonia demonstrated his love (agapao) for us in that the Messiah died on our behalf…

So then, is it not quiet silly that an ecclesiastical-infrastructure would exists that primarily supports itself when one of the defining characteristics of the people who make it up is supposed to be agapao?

How is it that, on average, eighty-percent of our western “tithe” is used to pay church staff and support the programs, which in large part are for the members of the church? It isn’t a bad idea to have church staff and a building; however, it will costs us more than our illusive ten-percent tithe. The patristic writings note that by right our tithe belongs to the poor and needy. There is also found in these writings positions of people in the church who’s sole job was to go out and find those who where hungry and without, then bring them to the Yeshua worshiping community and share all they had with them.

What am I to do with the portion of my income that I set aside, my tithe if you will? Do I give it to an ecclesiastical-infrastructure that will take to spend on utility bills, staff salaries, and program costs? One of the characteristics of All Souls that began to pull me out of cynicism and fear toward the western church was when Doug said from the pulpit not give our tithe to the offering plate if we knew of someone who needed it more. I’m under the impression that my “tithe” by right belongs to those caught in poverty and in need. But what is my tithe?

The tithe was a cultural norm of the nation of Israel for support of the temple. With the fall of the temple and introduction of the synagogue there was no longer a need for the temple tithe. Thus, no more Levites to support. But the nation continued the practice and utilized the synagogue, socially, as a means to redistribute their wealth to the poor and needy among them. The church, as I understand it, is to partly resemble the synagogue’s role within society. But there isn’t much redistribution of wealth with our tithes. Our tithe is being utilized to support the structure of the church, is that how it ought to be utilized? Then there is that pesky teaching of Yeshua “sell all you have and give it to the poor.”

Oh but wait then we won’t have enough money for our current life-style…how are we to live in an age where forty percent of the world holds ninety percent of its wealth? What does our faith look like when its not baptized into our American Dream and proper capitalism practices?

I have a fire place mantle that is lined with money that by right belongs to the poor and needy…but I can’t seem to find any who needs this money.

Who are the poor and needy among us?