Tithing in the Time of COVID-19

Day 1 of 5: Giving Amidst Uncertainty

“And the crowds asked him [John the Baptist], ‘What then should we do?’ In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’ Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’ Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.’”
—Luke 3:10-14 (NRSV)

Back in the Before-Times (pre-COVID), it was pretty common to find yourself in a Sunday service rapidly rummaging through your purse or wallet to find a few dollars of physical, paper money as the collection basket approached closer and closer to where you were sitting. As we’ve moved increasingly towards digital payment methods (credit card, debit card, mobile pay, etc.), this was one of the few times during the week that I had to really focus on ensuring I had at least $5 on me—or risk sheepishly passing the basket on without adding to it.

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But why feel sheepish or anxious about not adding money to the collection basket? Is there any difference between giving money to your local church or religious community frequently (or, in my case, accidentally infrequently) versus giving to a dedicated local charity? Or to a group dedicated to social activism? Or to a friend or a family member or a stranger who is in a difficult financial situation? Or to a community that lives hundreds of miles away? Or to a struggling small business? Are all of these versions of the same thing, or are they different? And, more importantly, which, if any, does Christ call on us to contribute our material wealth and goods to—particularly when money is tight?

For many of us, this is Month 4 or more since in-person worship services have been replaced with live-streamed or pre-recorded ones(I am writing this in late July of 2020). Gone are the days (at least for now) where we had the gift of passing a basket from one person’s hands to the next. With all of our communities mourning and struggling through the current pandemic—particularly affecting those communities that had already faced decades and centuries of political and socio-economic repression, and with so many millions unemployed and facing so much uncertainty as we look to our personal and societal futures—should we continue to “tithe,” to whom, and how much?

John the Baptist’s exhortation offers us a signpost. He addresses each person according to their current situation and circumstances.
Do you have more money than you need for your daily life (i.e., “two coats”)? Consider transferring some of your un-needed wealth to those that are struggling or suffering oppression.

Are you in a position of economic and business power (i.e., a “tax collector”)? Do not take advantage of the people who work for you or the customers you serve, but instead treat everyone with fairness, equity, and compassion.

Are you in a position of political or social power (i.e., a “soldier”)? Use your influence to care for others and fight for justice rather than supporting the forces of darkness.

John the Baptist asks us to first look at where we are in the moment. What’s our job? What do we have? Who do we know? What can we influence? Then we work from where we are to find how we can serve God’s Kingdom in a real, material way through helping those around us.

One Who Knows Our Hearts, help us to see in our everyday experiences and duties how we can work towards your physical Kingdom on earth. Take all of our gifts, our weaknesses, our successes, and our failures so that we may work for the good of all people and of all broader Creation, even as we live in this time of fear and uncertainty. Amen.

Nick Bellomy

Day 1 of 5: Giving Amidst Uncertainty

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