As I discussed earlier in the God and Money series, tithing is an ancient and controversial part of Christianity as well as western religion in general. It’s become a tradition in many denominations, but it’s also bound up in fractured perspectives. Many attending churches don’t believe they are obligated by God’s law to give away 10% of what they bring home. It’s simply not stated that directly in the Bible. Others believe it’s an investment, and still others believe that it’s something like lottery: keep giving to God each Sunday and maybe one of these days you’ll be overcome with prosperity. It’s as silly as a pyramid scheme.

This lottery notion is part of something spreading through American Evangelism known as “Prosperity Gospel.” I really like the idea as an idea. And it seems like a simple thing to sell to needy, desperate, and heartfelt individuals, or, on the other hand, wealthy people who believe money might buy some level of spirituality. The idea is that God will plant the seeds of prosperity within the individual who tithes, providing them with great wealth for their investment in the Lord during these “End Times.”

It seemed to be working for some churches until the U.S. Finance Committee got wind of their prosperity. The following churches have attracted the government’s attention with their profits: Kenneth Copeland Ministries and World Healing Center Church Inc., both of Texas, World Changers Church International, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Bishop Eddie Long Ministries of Georgia, Joyce Meyer Ministries of Missouri, and Without Walls International Church and Paula White Ministries in Florida. Kenneth Copeland, head minister of the church by the same name, wrote the following in his book, How to Prosper from the Inside Out, “As the seeds of prosperity are planted in your mind, in your will and in your emotions … they eventually produce a great financial harvest.”

They certainly have. Earlier in November, Senator Charles Grassley, head of the U.S. Finance Committee, announced that he’s investigating the six aforementioned mega-churches and television evangelist ministers. Each of the six received a letter from the Iowa Republican asking them to provide records detailing their expense account breakdowns. Senator Grassley has requested that the churches respond with documentation by December 6th to allegations that the church leaders had been spending money donated via tithe in an inappropriate and excessive manner.

Among the churches’ seemingly excessive acquisitions in question are a $23,000 marble-topped toilet, a Rolls Royce, a $30,000 conference table, several private jets, and a $2 million “gift” to a pastor celebrating his 40th year in ministry. These might not seem like such a big deal for an average corporation but church industries are not like other industries. Not only are churches and ministries tax-exempt organizations prohibited by federal tax law from using income and assets for personal gain, they also have the additional benefit of not being required to fill out IRS financial information reports (the 990). “People who donated should have their money spent as intended and in adherence with the tax code,” Senator Grassley said.

Senator Grassley has a reputation of going after not just the Christians but also the humanists’ churches who claim a non-profit status as well. He’s tackled the Red Cross, the Nature Conservancy, the Smithsonian, and (my personal favorite) the United Way.

Tithing members’ contributions seem to be lending less to God’s work and more to the excessive lifestyles of “ministry” leaders. Some say it’s because most of the churches are nondenominational and don’t answer to a larger governing, ecclesiastical body that the problems start to creep in. However, the behavior hasn’t actually been limited to these nondenominationals in recent history. Rodney Rodis was a priest who stole at least $600,000 but maybe as much as $1 million from his two parishes. A Diocese treasurer by the name of Anton Zgoznik was convicted on 15 federal counts of fraud against his employer and the IRS. His partner, Joseph Smith was tried as well, their grand total: $784,000.

I’ll be honest. I don’t fully understand church-going, not even gay-friendly Church. I’m not saying I think it’s amoral. I would never want to direct my energies toward the taking of someone’s freedom of religion, but it’s the membership aspect that I honestly can’t quite grasp. Why this whole antiquated tithing system? Only vegetarian Christians don’t eat shellfish. Can’t other systems be altered. Nina suggested in a comment on one of my posts that Church’s just ask for a membership fee instead since that’s pretty much what tithing amounts to via “strong encouragement to give.” I think some kind of membership drive might be better. Weekly or even monthly giving carries the weight and shape of a bill and is bound to foster resentment over time. After I make a one-time donation to my favorite independent radio station, I feel less like I paid a bill and more like I did something worthwhile. Setting a total dollar goal amount at the beginning of a drive and asking for donations or a donation plan seems more conducive to a “heart of giving” and a “great financial harvest.”

This still doesn’t solve the riddle of human nature. People will always steal from people, and there’s no way to hand the gold straight over to the old guy since we can’t even prove it exists. When my dad was a pastor (although I’d certainly never defend his message) he always worked a second full-time job in order that our financial dependence would not be wholly on the congregation. That’s a lot to ask of a person, but I think it might just be the closest to best solution, other than my personal solution: don’t participate.

Ok, confession: sometimes I do go down to the local Cathedral and listen to the choirboys, but I don’t think that would qualify as church-going. Would it? I don’t ever deposit coins anywhere for this. I just slip in, sometimes do my writing while I listen, and stand up and sit down at the appropriate times. It’s the fact that this costs nothing and no one knows my name or speaks to me that makes it something of a “spiritual” event for me. It’s one of the few things in the world that feels free from any sort of material or inter-personal economy (well, I do get a good poem out of it occasionally, but that’s debatable as “product” or “conversation”). If I had to sign up or be social, I wouldn’t go.

One last question, what exactly would “gay tithing” entail?