Tithing: Test Me in This (Ancient Practices) [Hardcover]

Douglas Leblanc (Author), Phyllis Tickle (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 16, 2010 | Series: Ancient Practices

Stories of people who live a generous and happy life (and why you'll want to live that way too).

Journalist Douglas LeBlanc travels the nation to talk with believers whose lives have been enriched by the ancient spiritual discipline of tithing. He discovers people along the way who do not understand the practice as an onerous law but as God’s call to a life of generosity and compassion. The effect on their lives is dramatic.

LeBlanc talks with a variety of believers—from a pastor in the south side of Chicago to progressive Episcopalians, from an Orthodox rabbi to an Eastern Orthodox priest and his wife. By holding their gifts with open hands, they are drawn deeper into a life of joy and sharing that begins in the very heart of God.

Volume VII in Thomas Nelson's Ancient Practices series.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Douglas LeBlanc has been religion editor of The Advocate in Baton Rouge and editor for Christianity Today, Compassion International, and Anglicans United. He and his wife attend Saint Matthew's Episcopal Church.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (February 16, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849900956
• ISBN-13: 978-0849900952
• Product Dimensions: 0.7 x 5.5 x 8.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (152 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,055,036 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars An interesting series of biographical sketches, but little more February 3, 2010

By dachkl

Format:Hardcover

Douglas Leblanc, a journalist, contributed this volume to the Ancient Practices series edited by Phyllis Tickle exploring the major disciples or practices of the historic Christian faith. I've read one other book in this series (The Sacred Meal by Nora Gallagher), but each volume in the series seems autonomous in its direction and structure. Leblanc approaches tithing through a series of biographical vignettes, offering insight into the life, background, and tithing practice of a dozen or so individuals or families, including Ron and Arbutus Sider (of 'Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger' fame) and Ed Bacon (rector at All Saints Episcopal in Pasadena) and a number of others in between.

While I appreciated Leblanc's narrative/biographical approach, I found myself wishing that the volume had a deeper framework and guiding structure. There was little in the book that related to the theological, biblical, or historical traditions related to the practice of tithing, and I believe the volume could have been strengthened with some sort of thread that connected the stories together.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Thomas Nelson.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Little more than a series of opinions February 14, 2011

By Arthur Sido

Format:Hardcover

So I read Tithing by Douglas LeBlanc. Tithing is an issue that I have done some study on before even requesting the book and I will admit to having a negative predisposition before it even arrived. Book Sneeze asks for an unbiased review, so here it is. This was just a numbingly uninteresting book. It amounts to little more than a series of anecdotes and a diverse group of people stating their personal opinions about why tithing is swell and how, in many cases, God has faithfully given them money mysteriously. Sure it isn't technically prosperity teaching but there is a certain element of that ideology that runs rampant throughout. I frankly found it not only uninteresting but doctrinally dangerous.

I understand that the point most of the folks interview were making was not that tithing is commanded but a spiritual discipline (hence the name of the series) but the problem remains that in reading the various interviews you get the impression that these folks have done very little to study the idea of tithing as an Old Testament practice and don't see the difference between bringing your tithe into the storehouse and contributing money to your local church.

There is a lot to be said about faithful giving in the church, about caring for the needs of our brothers, about how Christians should view money. Setting a baseline 10% based on a poor understanding of Old Testament tithing and applying it to the church is unhelpful. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. That might seem harsh but I didn't come away with anything even remotely redeeming about it.

I received Tithing: The Ancient Practices Series as part of the Book Sneeze program in return for posting an unbiased review.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Lacking... February 8, 2010

By A. Pelser

Format:Hardcover

The latest book in the Thomas Nelson Ancient Practices Series tackles the topic of tithing. Tithing is a subject that many churches and many Christians often shy away from discussing. Douglas LeBlanc shows, through a series of interviews, why people tithe and what God has done in their lives because of their practice of tithing.

Like many churches and non-profits around the United States, our church has recently been affected by our nation's economic downturn. If Christ-followers understood and practiced tithing, churches wouldn't be short on funds and we'd be able solve many of the world's poverty related issues. I believe and practice tithing. As a church staff, we're trying to help our church members take that step of faith. When I saw this book on Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze site, I thought it might be a great resource for teaching our members more about stewardship. Although I was not thrilled with all of the interviews and stories, I liked the concept. I would liked to have seen more discussion relating directly to the scriptural basis for tithing leading into or as a follow up to the testimonies. Unfortunately, this book is not the resource that I'd hoped it would be. It isn't a bad book. It is not what I was looking for or needed.

*** This book was review for Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze. This book was supplied to me for free through this program in exchange for a review of the book. My review was not influenced by Thomas Nelson or the fact that the book was provided for free. ***

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars A Lot of Stories and Opinion with Very Little Scripture Cited April 16, 2011

By Caleb

Format:Kindle Edition

I have a big interest in books on finance and tithing in particular as they relate to living out the Christian faith. When I was in seminary, the emphasis of my M.Div was stewardship and I picked up this book hoping to strengthen my library of books on the topic. The description of the book is pretty vague, but I hoped I would be getting a book that dealt practically with tithing. Well, if that is what you are looking for you need to find another book. This book is essentially a number brief interviews that the author did. The interviews are with a range of people and some of them were quite interesting, but they provide very little practical or Biblical information about tithing.

It was especially frustrating because I was hoping to see more Scripture in the stories told. Had Leblanc tied his interview questions more closely to the relevant texts in the Bible, the book could have been much more interesting and useful for those looking for information about tithing. Even some of the stories seem to have very little to do with tithing and instead focus more on some peripheral issue that is specific to the person being interviewed.

The most useful part of the book is in the final pages where there are a series of study questions related to each chapter. These questions attempt to bring the book into the practical realm for the reader. Unfortunately, the book needed to delve into the practical (e.g. the text of Scripture) much sooner then the last pages. There are far better books on tithing out there.

Disclaimer- I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.