Church Gives Tithes Back to Congregation
by Robert Russo
When any humanitarian goal is empowered it makes news because it destroys politics. Compassion is the anti-politic. It is fiscally irresponsible. Benevolence melts one's own security and constituency. An enviromentalist would have Capitol Square cleared and turned into a park, their goal to return native flora and fauna to that address for the first time in 200 years. A libertarian majority would start giving taxes back to the people, and a local church has been inspired to do something similar.
Last Sunday at Unity Christ Church of Bon Air, after the collection of tithes and offerings was taken in, the velvet collection bags were recirculated amongst the congregation and the money returned to them in the amount of $10 apiece (children included), to hit the day's message home that the church owes its members a tithe as much as they owe the church.* This astonishes me personally having gotten used to the bureaucracy of church boards. Their intentions are pure but they are responsible for a business and therefore subscribe to the common goals of business. Building projects expand and new facilities break ground like universities, instead of relinquishing that power by dividing into smaller churches.
Unity Christ Church is located on Buford Rd. in Bon Air. Non-denominational services are held in a former residence with an extensive meditation garden, with emphasis on reflection and affirmation much like a wellness seminar. I have not seen less religious ordnance, imagery or acknowlegement of things like sin in any other place of worship. (I am told the message was once more metaphysical than religious and more seminar-like before they had a fulltime pastor.) This might explain why they are small enough that the board would rather say thank you than set higher business objectives.
Taxes and tithing are the same concept with one exception. A church is deserving because it belongs to God, but is government almighty or does it belong to us? Taxation is a form of ownership, of tribute (and potentially slavery). Giving it back is an homage to those really in charge, and to freedom. You can learn more about Unity Christ Church at www.unitybonair.com. This story is at http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/search.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2007-09-17-0131.html.
*http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/search.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2007-09-17-0131.html
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