October - The Month of Tithing Madness, Pastors Breaking Bad, Becoming "Tithesenberg"

I'm not sure what it is about the month of October, but this is the month that so many pastors "break bad" - they may be wonderful preachers preaching helpful sermons and preaching from the bible honestly and truthfully all year. Like the transformation of  "Breaking Bad's" Walter White from mild-mannered high school chemistry teacher into the infamous "Heisenberg", in October some pastors will turn: they now will tell you grand stories about Malachi 3, about your obligation to "tithe", even scare you and your loved ones to get you to give more money than you can afford to your church.

All from a man who is supposed to help you and give you solid spiritual advice - and should know better - and perhaps DOES know better, but still does it. These pastors may be truthful all year - but come October they feel the need to lie to their congregations about their duty to fork over 10% of one's income - the first 10% - to the church. They won't tell you that the OT tithe was 23 1/3%. They will tell you Jesus endorsed the tithe. They will even tell you that Hebrews says Jesus personally receives your tithe. Usually they will roll out Malachi Chapter 3, and somehow connect an Old Testament practice for the nation of Israel to modern day financial support of 501(c)3 religious organizations.

October 2010 was when I first noticed this October phenomenon - that was the month when some of the absolutely most ridiculous teachings about giving 10% to the church were rolled out:

- America is going to be judged by God for all the lousy non-tithing Americans.

- People who don't tithe are "wasting their time" coming to church.

- God will "poof", blow your money away in the wind if you don't tithe, e.g. "God collects on what he is owed". Like a loan shark.

And this October is no different.

I've got more clips this month from Robert Morris, Craig Groeshell, and Steve Gaines yet to come. And we are only half way through October.

So peeps, if your pastor tries to lay a guilt trip on you this month - if he tries to make you feel less of a Christian for not being "faithful" enough to tithe - if he tries to scare you into thinking you're at financial risk from God and the "devourer" for your poor giving: just remember, he doesn't quite know what he is doing. He might actually think he is trying to help you. Or he might know what he is saying is not true but trying to raise revenue for his church and he knows that teaching tithing "works".

Either way, just smile, nod, and ignore his teaching on Malachi 3. Pray for him. Don't engage him in a conversation about it. And for heaven's sake don't send an anonymous email.

And continue to practice New Testament giving: cheerfully, as YOU have decided in your heart what to give. And always put your family and children FIRST in your finances, not the church.

And wait for November.