I have been inspired by the latest rounds of political debate in the state of Alabama over taxes to make a modest proposal. Churches should make tithing more Christian.
First of all tithing should not begin until a family income of $20,000 has been reached. The tithe should only be applied to the amount of family income exceeding $20,000. Will not that be to the advantage of the poor? It would thereby be more Christian.
Secondly, does not the old concept of a 10% Tithe favor the rich and hurt the poor? If higher tax brackets for the rich and lower tax brackets for the poor are more Christian forms of government taxation, surely the churches should follow the same practice. I would suggest the following Graduated Tithing Scale:
Income less than $20,000 No Tithe
Income $20,000 to $40,000 5% of the amount over $20,000
Income $40,000 to $60,000 $1000 plus 10% of the amount
over $40,000
Income $60,000 to $80,000 $3000 plus 20% of the amount
over $60,000
Income $80,000 to $100,000 $7000 plus 30% of the amount
over $80,000
Income over $100,000 $13,000 plus 40% of the amount
over $100,000
Thirdly, the churches should adopt the practice of an Intangibles Tithe. This would really be Christian! Plus it would also discourage senseless investments in CD's, stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, when this money could be used for more humanitarian purposes. I would suggest a modest Intangibles Tithe at first of 10% of any market values over $10,000. Congregations could increase this amount as needed to increase budgets, finance building programs, or correct any unfair accumulations of wealth.No doubt some will object to these proposals on various grounds. Some might say for instance, that it is not good for people who participate in the government of the church to contribute nothing to the church. Some people in the church might then be too quick to spend money that others had worked hard to earn and who have made some sacrifice in meeting their tithe. Others might complain that all this talk of graduated tithing in not really biblical and thereby not Christian at all. They might say that it is based on an unbiblical concept of fairness and thereby a very questionable concept of fairness. There are some who will complain that the Intangibles Tithe is a concept subject to unlimited abuse. There are some who will complain that to call any of these suggestions Christian is at best very questionable. They might even raise the question as to whether I have confused popular sentimentalism with biblical Christianity. They might even accuse me of an opportunistic use of the Christian label. They might say that to call my ideas Christian is presumptuous or even ridiculous, or at least ill advised.
But are not all these criticisms of my plan based on greed and self-interest? Do not all these mealy- mouthed complaints simply show that my critics have no heart for the poor? Can mere biblical analysis throw out sound sentimentality? Where is wisdom?
With apologies to Jonathan Swift, I am sincerely yours,
Leonard M. Scruggs
5144 Willow Way
Birmingham, AL 25242
June 8, 2003