A guest post by Dave Carrol
Pastor Shannon first met Dave at a social media event in Kitchener in 2011, he was sharing about The Kindness Project and dressing up in red tights as Captain Kindness in the city of Brantford.
In 2013, the Mischuk’s and the entire Carrol family got to know each other much better as they attended a special influencer weekend at Ontario Pioneer Camp.
Dave Carrol with Pastor Shannon in the background at OPC
A few years ago Dave wrote this article on his own personal Facebook profile, “What if we all tithed?” With his permission we shared it in 2016 and thought it would make a great reminder on this blog.
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There is a principle in Christianity and Judaism called “Tithing.” It means intentionally giving 10% of your gross income; in this case to the church. Some Christian circles subscribe fully to it in the modern context, some debate its relevance, while others have let it slide with the times. But its Historical Biblical, Christian, and Judeo existence (in one form or another) for roughly 4000 recorded years is well documented.
The Orthodox Jews call it ma’aser kesafim, in partnership with the principle of “Gemilut Hasadim” meaning “giving kindness.” Acts of kindness or “hesed” are said make this world a more tolerable and better place. I’m VERY pro-kindness. Shoot… they call me The Captain. But, make no mistake that this ancient lifestyle of generosity is about meeting consistent, structural needs through consistent, structured giving.
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| Captain Kindness |
I know Pastors and leaders who have spent their entire careers avoiding talking about this principle, or giving in general, because it makes them uncomfortable. However, giving is as important to the individual as it is to the organization. Ignoring leading others to new levels of generous giving handicaps both on micro and macro scales.
Rich Stearn, president of World Vision USA explains what the title means to him:
“I have often thought of the tithe in a different way, as a kind of ‘inoculation’ against the power that money can sometimes hold over us. When we are vaccinated against a deadly virus, our bodies are injected with a small amount of that virus, weakened so that it won’t hurt us. By putting this small amount into our systems, we develop an immunity to the virus, and it can no longer harm us. Metaphorically speaking, paying a tithe on our income has the same effect. By cheerfully giving away a small portion of our money, we become immune to the corrupting power it can have in our lives. When we tithe, not out of obligation, but out of love and obedience for God, we are making the bold statement that money has no power over us. Even when we give it away freely, we know that we can depend on God to replenish it and sustain us.”
And…. bills get paid. These are days where even stalwart nonprofits, many of which are the glue that hold our communities together, are struggling to make ends meet. A new phenomenon some organizations are facing is that they have money for “stuff” but not to keep the lights on and the staff fed. There are great, funded programs ready to roll… and no one to drive the bus. Motivations for giving have changed with the times. While the “Builder” generation gave out of duty and responsibility, current generations are far more likely to give to a cause, project or an inspiration-of-the-month. And while all giving is good, the least sexy place to give (and the toughest ask) remains the most important. Non-profits are being tempted to create new tasty initiatives, because people will give towards it, while unable to pay regular bills. Maybe call it the Ice-Bucket-Effect. You can see how destructive a trap that can become.
So… what if we all tithed? Are we even close?
In 2008, 27.3 per cent of Americans donated to good causes, compared to 23.6 per cent of Canadians, and they gave almost twice as much according to an annual study on giving by the Fraser Institute. According to the Barna group, whether people believed in tithing or not, the average is about 5% who give 10% of their gross. According to the Globe and Mail,
“The percentage of Canadians donating to charity actually declined between 1998 and 2008. Clearly, our sense of social obligation is not as fully developed as it should be, which is why, for example, the Ontario government requires high school students to provide 40 hours of community service before they can graduate”
We’re giving less in a world that has more needs. The only reason
Freedom House is able to do what it does in the community is because of the consistent generosity of our folks. The extra stuff (for which we’re ENORMOUSLY appreciative) is awesome, but
it’s the regular giving we can count on that we use to plan around. It’s the least sexy form of giving, but the most important in every context. Bar none. If you talk with any charity, it’s the regular, consistent giving by which budgets are set and the reach of the mission is decided.
In the book of Matthew, Jesus spoke of the tithe, brought it to life, and took it to another level. He scolded those who were nickel and diming people when it came to the tithe saying, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” He essentially said, “YES give! But care! It’s not a financial thing… it’s a heart thing! Where your heart is, there your treasure will be.”
I am an unapologetic participant in and proponent of the tithe as the ground-floor level of giving.
What if we all tithed as a community? I can BARELY imagine it. But I CAN imagine it. Not just a church thing. Everyone. Incredible things are already being done due to the generosity of many in our city. But allow me to challenge you to budget more in advance. Be a consistent giver to the things that impact our city for the better. Brantford CAN BE the kindness city in Canada.
Dave Carrol – founder of
The Kindness Project and church leader at Freedom House in Brantford, Ontario Canada.
More on the subject of giving can be found here:
