I'd love to see something posted on clearing debt. During my 19 years as a disciple, I've allowed contribution pressures to influence my financial decisions. I have a good bit of debt from my educational investments (two masters degrees) and from two periods of unemployment. I am beginning a new job and need to make decisions regarding my contribution. I have searched your site and am in the process of reading Mark Shaw's article (The Evolving Tithe). I'd be very grateful if you would suggest resources and/or provide feedback. -- Cresenda Jones (Philadelphia)
The scriptures have much to say about debt. Hundreds of scriptures inform the discussion. I would begin in your own Bible. Also, may I recommend you listen to Greg Garcia's tape series on Steps to Financial Freedom? (If you cannot find it, please email me.) If you want to go deeper, definitely read R. J. Sider's Rich Christians Living in an Age of Hunger, and also Craig Blomberg's Neither Poverty Nor Riches.
If you want a short answer, give first to the Lord. You will not be disappointed.
And yet there is no magical percentage. The tithe was an Old Testament ordinance, not a New Testament one. If you are saddled with debt, you may need to begin modestly, and work up to a higher percentage of giving. Most Americans can give a lot more than 10% if they live within their means. Perhaps you can only afford 5% of your gross income in contribution at the present. Soon, though, you may be able to double or triple that. Remember, there is no minimum level of giving in Christianity--yet no maximum, either!
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