Tax Time
As a part of President Bush's economic stimulus plan, most Americans will be receiving a rebate come May. The estimate that I received puts the total rebate given to the members of the ELCA at $1 Billion. That's right, $1,000,000,000.
Imagine ...
What would happen if the members of the ELCA all tithed from their tax rebate checks? $100 Million dollars, committed to ministry and mission. Many of the ELCA's bishops, including our own Synodical Bishop, have pledged to do just that - to give 10% of their rebate checks to "Blessed to be a Blessing", which is the ELCA's "ministry among poor people" (MAPP).
If my math is right (and it may not be), and if the estimate I received is correct, then that means that members of this congregation - St. John Lutheran Church - will be receiving just under $100,000 from the tax rebate; which puts a tithe for our congregation at $10,000 - which is no small change for a congregation our size.
What about you?
What are your plans for the rebate check?
Maybe a down payment on a new car ... Maybe some new electronics ... maybe paying down debt ...
Do your plans include setting aside a portion of this unexpected windfall, and offering it back to God?
Do your plans include using this money to help provide for our neighbors?
Let's be honest, when it comes to stewardship, we modern Christians are not the best. On average, we give something like 3% of our income - that is, a third of what Scripture tells us God asks for us to offer in thanksgiving. And, most of the time, we do it grudgingly and half-heartedly - rather than joyfully and with hearts filled with thanks for all that God has given us.
This is our opportunity. Prior to January, none of us was planning on having this money. We were not counting on it to make ends meet this year. Before we have a chance to earmark this money for some extravagent expense that we would usually forego, let's pledge to at least offer a tithe of this money back to God.
What wonders could God work through our offering of $100,000,000?
14 comments:
My husband did the same kind of math for our congregation and he figures that a substantial portion of the people are doing fine without the rebate and could give the whole thing to some good ministry project. He's not talking about those people who will spend it on actual necessities, but the ones who will spend it on "toys" and trinkets and other "stuff" which with we clutter our modern lives. He is angry about this rebate because he thinks it feeds the drive of consumerism.
It might be nice to know that if we do spend it on goods that they are made by people working in the country that is providing the rebate. [Hey wait, maybe China is backing this rebate!?!]
Well, I haven't seen the letters or cards that the government is supposed to be sending out. I know ours will go to some kind of fund that provides the real necessities for some other people.
Sounds like a great idea...but I am using it to put up a new fence so the neighbor's dog will quit using my lawn as his personal toilet...
our vestry decided to be pro-active and put out a flier in the bulletin last week asking for folks to pledge their tax rebate, and which ministry they'd like it to go to.
I saw several of them going into the offering plate ... they haven't been collated yet ... and there will be future opportunities to make this pledge! I'll let you know how it goes.
Hey, Brenham! I used to live in Bryan/College Station! You're fixing to have some great bluebonnets! Wish I were there!
I'm sure we'll tithe, but what's left of our rebate might go to a laptop computer for me (that's right, I don't have one).
My wife and I were thinking just like Diane, only after tithing, Angela gets the computer.
@PS - You make a very good point about where our products come from. I try to think of that as often as possible, but confess that it is at times harder to pay the premium for domestically produced items.
@ Lutherpunk - Good fences make good dogs ... or something like that.
@ Mary beth - what a wonderful idea. I hadn't thought of being quite that pro-active about it, but I bet it helps. And yes, it is almost bluebonnet time - should be a beautiful bloom this year too.
@ Diane & David - a laptop is a great way to spend some of it - I have found mine to be very useful (bought it with the last of my student loans.
Just try to find American goods...I often look where things come from. The furniture factory where I bought my dining table is gone (the furniture in their store is now from "off shore"), the last time I bought a frying pan, I had choices from three other continents.
But hey, after a major downturn and loss of jobs and people, my area is enjoying an upswing in iron mining due to all the steel the US exports to China.
Back to the rebate. My husband's feelings are due to the big deficit the US already has and the fact that so many of us, our family included, own more than enough stuff.
We talked about doing this very thing at our house.
Although...if we bought a Wii first, is the 10 percent still a tithe?...[rueful grin]
@ PS - I agree with your husband's approach 100%.
@ Lutheranchik - Great to see you again. And yes, but just to be sure, watch out for a smiting from the Almighty Smiter ;)
Great suggestion. To expand it a bit, what would happen if Christians of all denominations tithed their rebates and set aside another 10% for other worthy causes?
Honestly, I hadn't thought of tithing it. I planned to use the whole thing toward a down payment on a new car (my 11 year old baby just isn't going to make another summer in the Louisiana heat), but you've inspired me to commit to tithing to my church's roof fund (the repairs are done, now we just have to pay for them!).
Sheryl - Excellent. Good for you, and thanks for sharing that.
Thank you for sharing. My wife and I are planning to tithe our rebate check. We just haven't decided to who/what yet. After our tithe we will be paying down our debt on our new HD TV and then putting some away for a new couch.
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