In his book, The Rented Veil – The High Cost of Worship: God’s Plan for Building Wealth, author Darryl Odom takes a unique look at tithing that breaks ranks with previous teachings.  The crux of his thesis: the faithful should not feel guilty if they cannot contribute a tenth of their income during hard times, as this is not required by God or the Bible.  Odom spoke to BiblEconomy about his book and the biblical lessons relevant to today’s economic situation:

BE: Tell us about your book.

Odom: The Rented Veil is a challenging interpretation that reveals a paradigm shift in giving for the people of faith.  With careful study and cross-referencing of scriptures, The Rented Veil shows how God establishes the essence of saving and that saving is what we must do in order to give.  The Rented Veil goes even further to proposition that this little known and overlooked tenet saving is a holy sacrament equal to any other sacrament of scripture.

BE: What inspired you to write it?

Odom: In conversations with many Christians of various backgrounds, I discovered that many were struggling with the teaching of paying tithe and felt guilty about not being able to make sacrificial offering (as they were being taught) at the expense of all other necessities in their lives. They were burdened by teachings that demanded that they pay and or give sacrificially no matter what.  To do less or contrary, they are taught, illustrates the believers’ lack of faith in God’s ability to meet or supply their needs.  A believer feels labeled as a result of such teachings, and is often publicly shamed unintentionally (and sometimes intentionally) by acts of ministers in worship.  Thus I thought: would God want His people to feel guilty and/or confused over something that is a part of worship, which is a joyful occasion. 

BE: Explain your concept of tithing and how that can help people save and get out of debt.

Odom: The original intent of the tithe is for the giver.  In Deuteronomy 14:22-25 and in either KJV [King James Version] or NIV [New International Version], the giver is to give a tithe of all the “increase” (KJV) or “set aside a tenth” (NIV) for him or her self.  The very next sentence says, eat it before or in the presence of the Lord as a celebration of the great things God has done.  Literally, that translates into paying yourself – save.  In the third year after saving and managing the increase, give a tithe to the Priest and Levite but the giver is also included in this setting to take part in receiving. 

The people of faith should save and manage the increases in their lives.  And they alone are left with the responsibility of determining what those increases are.  Increases are determined not by ignoring their obligations but by including them in their assessment. After meeting living expenses – since the tithe is for the giver, the giver must give to him or her self-first – the giver can tithe on the increases they have. 

A believer’s financial life should be of a pie graph and not linear.  The tithe is a part of that circle and God gives each of us the responsibility of managing that circle up to the year of the tithe.  A believer can give sacrificially if he or she chooses to do so. But that should be God-led, not man-led.    
 
BE: What in your opinion is the most important Bible lesson relevant to today’s economic crisis?

Odom: Genesis 41:25-36 is the most important Bible lesson relevant to today’s economic crisis.  In those verses, God uses Joseph to explain the Egyptian Pharaoh’s dreams and makes it a lesson on the importance of saving to make it through times of famine and drought. [Ed: see “Top Ten” Bible lessons].

BE: How helpful are church-based financial planning seminars, an increasing phenomenon?

Odom: Church-based financial planning seminars are helpful if and when they teach the truth on giving as outlined in Deuteronomy 14:22-25 and Deuteronomy 26:1-15 which unequivocally states that the tithe is for the giver.  The seminars should go on to teach that the giver must manage and expand their gift so that they can give effectively and joyfully during the year of the tithe, but the giver in not limited to give during the year of the tithe.  He or she can give as they are led by God to do as often as they choose, weekly, monthly or yearly.  The presenters of the seminar should know, as we all know and believe, that God shall give increase to the church as He deems.  

Odom’s book is available at www.rentedveil.com.