God's Dirt

God is sitting in Heaven when a scientist says to Him, "Lord, we don't need you anymore. Science has finally figured out a way to create life out of nothing. In other words, we can now do what you did in the beginning'.""Oh, is that so? Tell Me..." replies God. "Well," says the scientist, "we can take dirt and form it into the likeness of YOU and breathe life into it, thus creating man."
"Well, that's interesting. Show Me." So, the scientist bends down to the earth and starts to mold the soil.
"No, no, no..." interrupts God, "Get your own dirt."

Some time ago, I received the joke I copied above from a friend in my email box. It really resonated with me on many levels, because I have spent most of my life outside of organized religious practice, and at least according to some, I am in violation of certain religious tenets. I have often been told that I am projecting an image that says God is not necessary in my life. WOW, not to dictate to others what their perception should be, but if this is the way I appear to you, I assure you that that perceived attitude is definitely NOT ACCURATE!

I have been told by some that this "dismissal" of God from my life that is manifested in my choice not to join or regularly attend a church, might very possibly lead to me having a day like Jack's in the cartoon above. As I read this joke, I began to think about all of the things my friends and family members who practice various organized religions believe and have faith in based on what they have been taught in their respective churches. Though I believe with my whole heart in the existence of God, and strive to live in such a manner as to please Him, I very simply do not subscribe to most of their practices and beliefs. I think that most of the rituals that accompany membership in these organizations are just that, rituals...intended to impress "The Omnipotent".......get real! Thus, things such as attending church on a regular basis or baptizing my son as a baby are not things I feel or felt obligated to do. Admittedly, I accept that there is ample room for my perspective to be broadened and I actively seek education from those whose opinions I respect...folks like my college roomie Lisa, my best friend Angie, my friend and former colleague Bernard, and since just recently, Serenity of blogland fame. I feel that surrounding myself with individuals like the ones mentioned above and others fulfills God's expectation that I be amongst those of a like mind, even though we all differ in how we express our faith in Him.

One practice of organized religion that I do feel is worth participating in, is the practice of tithing. To give of my time, talent, and treasure to show my appreciation for the blessings I've personally experienced through God's grace, and to honor the sacrifice God has made on my behalf just makes sense to me. I know many of you are probably scratching your heads at this point saying, "If she doesn't belong to or attend church regularly, where is she tithing?"

Well, here's where things get interesting. Tithing to a church is not part of the tithing equation as I see it. I have been in many conversations with church-goers as well as others like me who don't attend church regularly during which the issue of tithing and subsequently, where the proceeds are utilized has arisen. I've heard more thoughts on these issues than I can recount, and I believe "Serenity 23" blogged about this issue in the past week as well. My thoughts on the subject are that if I was a member of a specific church I would tithe there as where the proceeds were going would not be an issue since I would NEVER join a church if I had concerns about the appropriateness of how the funds were being handled. If however, I found out after the fact that funds were misappropriated, I would most likely move on if the situation was not dealt with to my satisfaction and allow God to take it from there. Remain there and continue to give monetary tithes.... I could NOT do it!

Additionally, I must say that I do feel that it is a misappropriation of funds for a church's pastor who doesn't have any other means of generating his/her personal income outside of the church to be living in splendor when members of his/her congregation are barely making it. I think that one who chooses a life in the ministry as his/her sole vocation, should do so with the acceptance that his/her lifestyle should be idealy, a reflection of no more than an average of the lifestyles of the church members he/she services unless that minister has other means of income or a spouse who generates additional income. Does the wealth of a minister such as T.D. Jakes bother me? No, as he has many ventures from which to generate income which go beyond the available finances of his church. At this point, I'd be appalled to find he still receives any monetary support from his church though I realize it is very likely he does. [Sharon with one eyebrow raised if she could do it.] For a church whose members barely have the means to buy bus passes to be financing a minister's Mercedes Benz is inexcusably callous on the part of the minister and somewhat stupid in my opinion, on the part of the congregation at large. It would be like me mortgaging my house because Ryan (my son) wants designer clothes and a luxury car...I'm obligated to provide his basic needs, luxuries he should get for himself if this large a sacrifice is required!

Okay, okay, I don't belong to a church so where does that leave me as it relates to tithing? First, I don't set a limit on the amount of monetary tithing I do. My budget is set for handling my household and savings, and the rest is up for grabs, first come first serve. I am generous to a fault, and will help anyone I perceive to be trying to help themselves. I think this is how God would have it. If the situation is severe enough and warrants, [i.e. evictions, medications, etc.] I have been known to sacrifice even my savings and household expenses to help out others, knowing all the time I will be okay because once again, I believe this is how God would have it and subsequently know he will take care of me.

Secondly, I think that the tithing of time and talent in most situations carries more weight than tithing monetarily. I'm constantly amused by those who seem to feel that they wrote their check for 10% and have essentially paid their dues so to speak. If you ask them to give up some of their precious time, you'll see the true "Christian" show up. Asked to donate whatever it is that is their talent, and they mentally start to count up what the cost would be if they were charging for said talent. I eagerly and willingly VOLUNTEER my time and talent often resulting in my plate being over-filled. It's okay, it keeps me young, vital, and my blood flowing! Many tithe only because they believe the biblical lesson that what you give away will be returned seven-fold. I don't know if this is the true, underlying reason behind my willingness to tithe time and treasure, but I can attest that the tithing I have done throughout my life has boomeranged back to me.....and to a tune much larger than seven-fold!

Whether tithing is tied to church or just something you do whenever or wherever you can, I believe it is essential to becoming the fully realized person each of us hope to be. When you reach out to help someone else by any means, you fulfill the promise of yourself, and your promise to God. Helping someone else helps us to forget what troubles we are having...and if you think about the requests we all send up in prayer, "God please take away my troubles", we see that in tithing there is always a positive return both in the lives of those we help as well as in our own as our troubles seem to diminish when we focus on the troubles of others.

I'm sure there are those of you who will feel that what I think of as tithing is not tithing, and that is okay with me. I am very interested to hear your perspectives, and am even open to the possibility that some of you may in some way change my mind. However, based on what I currently accept to be the truth, I am confident that God, the only being who truly knows my heart [including me], is happy with what I believe it is that I am doing!

So in closing, I know that God is essential to my life and I know that He is necessary! Therefore, I have no fear of "No Vacancy" signs on The Pearly Gates nor of the gates being locked upon my arrival. I know without question, that if I need it, He will allow me to use His dirt!