Blessing and Tithing

Blessing and Tithing
Genesis 14: 19-24

In the nondenominational church where my parents sent my sister and me to Sunday school, tithing was an important part of Christian commitment. But as a teenager I also became involved with my Church of England parish church. In those days in the Church of England no one had heard of tithing—or rather, it was something that strange, “free church” people did. The Church of England had assets from the past that paid pastors’ salaries and other church expenses, so church members had no need to tithe; other churches did not have such assets. But over the years, inflation meant those assets were worth much less, and people in the Church of England started hearing the word “tithe.” It was good for us. We learned to give like other Christians...