Customer Reviews

Tithing: Test Me in This (Ancient Practices)

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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.

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.

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. ***

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.

I recently read the most challenging and inspiring book I've read in a long time. Unbelievably, it's a book on tithing! Douglas Leblanc's Tithing: Test Me in This is the latest title in the Ancient Practices Series. In this book Leblanc challenges us to practice the discipline of tithing. He does this not by undertaking an exegesis of relevant bible passages or preaching a sermon, but by interviewing people whose lives have been decidedly marked by tithing and generosity. These interviews include members of a 1970s intentional community, an author who has given away millions of dollars in book royalties, and a pastor helping a New Orleans' neighborhood rebuild after Katrina. An interview with a Jewish rabbi gives useful background to the Old Testament commandments on tithing and generosity.

Leblanc looks at tithing not as an act of legalism but as an act of grace that is the doorway to a life of generosity. Tithing is discussed as a Christian practice through which God invites us to participate in His purposes in the world. Tithing is a means of grace through which one learns to live in the fullness of the Kingdom of God that is present now.

When I received a review copy of Tithing from Thomas Nelson, I anticipated reading it a few pages at a time, but was so inspired that I read the entire book in one day. I pray that my life would be marked by the radical dependence on God and joyful partnering in His work in the world that is seen in this book.

This is my second book in the Ancient Practices Series. It will probably be my last. Don't get me wrong: It's not that Tithing by Douglas Leblanc was a bad book. It just wasn't at all what I was expecting. Instead of tracing the biblical discussion of tithing throughout the church's history, making application to our lives today.
Instead, this book is a series of testimonies from voices throughout Christendom on the role that tithing has played in their lives. Interesting stories undoubtedly, but a tool for deepening an understanding of the call of giving, it is not.
One theme did resurface throughout several of the stories is the idea that tithing is the starting point, not the end point. Randy Alcorn, who contributes on chapter in this book, refers to tithing as "giving's training wheels." The tithe is a guideline to help us grow in charity, not an end unto itself. That lesson should resonate with us all. Our God gave everything - the life of his own Son - to us. The tithe is a step in surrender all of our lives to the One who surrender his life for us.
In short, if you are looking to see the impact of tithing on the lives of others, it is an encouraging read. If you are looking to wrestle with a theology of tithing or its application to the church throughout history or today, this book comes up short.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com[...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

I'm often challenged by the concept of tithing, and in discussing it with other people, lots of difficult questions arise:

* Is tithing only an Old Testament practice, no longer required of modern Christians?
* If we see tithing as relevant for today, do we practice the Old Testament's 10% or the New Testament's give-it-all-to-God?
* Are the unemployed required to tithe?
* What if you want to tithe but your spouse isn't Christian?
* What if you're in severe financial crisis and tithing will only add to your debt?
* Is tithing only financial, or does it include Time and Talents?

Unfortunately, this book answers none of these questions.

LeBlanc chooses to teach about tithing through profiles of tithers. That could work, but in the average 12 page chapter, 10 are dedicated to their personal history while only 2 are dedicated to the person's thoughts on tithing. My other issue is that most of these people are not your average tithers. Instead, they're often people who have dedicated their lives to extreme examples of giving, or living in dedicated communities that consume less.

That would be fine if this were a book on generous giving, but it's not. Unfortunately, it relegates tithing to a mere subtopic.

I really wanted to like this book, but in the end, I'm afraid I just can't recommend it.

This book takes a journalistic view of a number of individuals (or couples) who have been consistent "tithers" during their lifetimes. The main point seems to be to tell each person's story and how tithing has had an effect on their lives.

To be frank, I had a difficult time with this book. The author does not claim to aspire to educate the reader about the merits of tithing, or even the historical significance of the act of tithing, but to tell the personal stories of a number of people who have/are tithing. It was interesting to read some of the accounts. The author captured stories from people across a wide range of denominations and provided a very journalistic look into how they tithe. I think I was hoping for something with some historical background where I could learn more about the act of faith that tithing is and how it turns our hearts towards God. Not a book that I would recommend to a friend.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the [...] [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

If what you're looking for is a theological treatise on tithing, then "Tithing", by Douglas Leblanc, is not the book for you. However, if what you're hoping to find is a book about practical ways tithing was implemented by various people and communities, then this may be what you're looking for.

In the early pages, Leblanc admitted that he learned a valuable rule in his journalism career: "It's not about you." Using that rule, "Tithing" takes a story-telling, journalistic approach than a teachy-preachy one. It is less "why" and more "how".

"Tithing" is book 5 in the "Ancient Practices Series" by Phyllis Tickle. It is only 152 pages long with a short study guide at the end, so it's not a book one would spend a long time reading. All the stories seem to follow a similar format, so it makes for a quick read. In preparing for the book, Leblanc toured the country interviewing people involved in various organizations asking why tithing was important to them. But each chapter is a story of it's own; the chapters don't build from one to the next. Instead, readers could realistically pick up the book, choose a chapter, skip around and there would be no confusion of information by doing so.

Personally, the story-telling model did not appeal to me. I got bored very quickly with the book, and had I not agreed to read it entirely in order to review it, I most likely would have jettisoned it at the end of chapter 1. In fact, after finishing the 2nd chapter, I set the book on my nightstand and remarked to my wife, "I hope this book gets a lot more interesting pretty quickly."

On a positive note, what the stories/chapters brought out is the fact that there are faithful people all around the world doing great things for God's Kingdom with His money. We seem to find ourselves admiring people like this, yet we are reluctant to live as exemplary as they do and give as deeply. It is a wonder how the world would look today if we spent more of our time and efforts praying and giving? It is clear that the model in the Old Testament intended tithing as a means of providing for the poor and needy. The same theme emerged in "Fasting", by Scot McKnight, when he directed us to Isaiah who taught that fasting ought to lead us to giving. At the very least, "Tithing" has opened my eyes to seeing giving in a little bit different light.

LIKES: I did like that Leblanc cited others efforts and organizations, giving practical ways we can give above and beyond a simple offering plate. He not only cited those organizations, but also provided web links for readers to get involved in their efforts. My favorite chapter was #10, "Do They Tell Such Stories About Me and You?" In that chapter, Leblanc interviewed Rabbi Yisroel Miller. Miller pointed to some strong support in the Torah for tithing. Unfortunately, Leblanc didn't accentuate these points. He simply allowed the chapter to die with the conclusion of the interview.

DISLIKES: Very little scripture was used or taught throughout the book. I would have liked to see more of an authoritarian teaching on biblical giving, rather than an "anything-goes" method. Also, it seemed far too often that the people telling their stories tithed because of how it benefited them. Chapter 4, entitled, "Earnest Money", contained the story of John Schwiebert, whose view of tithing was summed up in this way: "If you become a member of Metanoia, you agree that tithing is the platform in which you enter into membership." To him, "the tithe [was considered] earnest money." I don't think the Bible's intent for tithing was for it to serve as a membership fee as though one paid a monthly or weekly membership to the fitness club. I would have liked to see Leblanc challenge some peoples' faulty notions of tithing. They could have served as teachable moments.

You'll notice I haven't quoted much from "Tithing". That's because in my opinion there wasn't much to quote. Overall, I give "Tithing" 2 stars out of 5. I think he put a lot of work into interviewing people of various organizations, but I didn't see him expounding on the teachable moments. I don't think I could recommend the book because I was honestly disappointed with it.


Disclaimer: I receive books from Thomas Nelson Publishers (Booksneeze) free of charge in exchange for my unbiased opinion of them. I am not threatened or rewarded in any way in efforts to encourage me to provide a positive review. All opinions are mine.

The beginning of any book is the key part to hooking the reader. It is supposed to pull you in and make you hunger for the following chapters. In the book Tithing by Douglas Leblanc, for me it fell flat. The idea of tithing is a complex topic, but the action is a simple one based purely on faith. My expectations of this book were to read heart warming stories of how joyful givers gave willingly and obediently and how this made their hearts rich with joy. I also expected to see the writer experience some sort of journey, and the writer never seems to come into play in that manner.

In chapter one of this book, that is not the feeling I got at all. The flow of paragraphs from one to the next did not tie together as neatly as I would have liked. The complexity of the story seemed to great to summarize in just a few short pages. Terms were tossed about assuming that the reader would know what they meant. The target audience would likely get lost or frustrated instead of gaining knowledge of this age long practice in obedience to the word of God.

Instead of feeling swept away or even vaguely interested, I felt frustrated and disheartened. In fact I was a little worried that I had committed to reading this book in its entirety. If I had picked this book up off the shelf in the store and read the first few pages, I would have left it there.

As I continued on there was a strange disconnect between each story. The style is more like that you would find in a newspaper. Where the reporter interviews the individuals and has no real connection to the story itself. In fact it comes across as a bunch of mismatched articles placed topically into one book. It also lacked scriptural backing. Tithing is a foundation that is backed by numerous books and verses in the Bible. When discussing a topic like this, I believe scripture should be used to support the topic.

In closing the idea for this book is a wonderful one, but I felt it to be an incomplete work that needed to be written more from the heart and less from a spectators point of view. It lacks in drawing in the reader and falls short on what the true spirit of tithing brings.

I was provided this book for free by BookSneeze.com. I am in no way compensated for this review and am permitted to state my true opinion of its content.