Is it Possible to be Biblical but not Christian?

I’m officially a theologian! I tend to be the one who goes to others who are older and wiser than I am for advice and insight about different issues, topics, discussions, etc. However, I was the one who was come to! I felt so honored J So instead of running instantly to my friend who lives down the street to give me the “right” answer, I jumped in head first by myself… I am growing up! ;-) But I would still love anyone and everyone’s thoughts and insight!

So here's the scoop: I joined a group on Facebook called “The Economics of Jesus.” (If you’re on Facebook, definitely check it out!) Well, I didn’t think much about joining the group because my beliefs fell within what the group talked about. A friend of mine emailed me a few days ago asking about the group. (Without hesitation, I can say she is much more conservative than I am.) Well, here is the question and following it is my response to her:

i was checking out the group and something about it confused me. how can something be biblical, but not christian? if the bible is the inspired word of GOD, how can people meant to be CHRIST followers dismiss parts of his very word? i.e. giving a portion of your income to the church? maybe you've given this some thought and can explain how something can be biblical, but not chrisitan.

From my understanding, a lot of it comes down to one’s understanding of the definition of the word “church.” It has become a new teaching in some churches that the church is not just the building with four walls—but the people and businessesàthe community around the building of the church. The church becomes the people you encounter at the coffee shop, your fellow students in your classes, the poets, the mothers and fathers, the homeless, the poor, the single mother working 3 jobs, etc. The church is not defined by the four walls, and shouldn’t be. God says that He is the head of the church—he did not necessarily mean that he is the head of the building (just one step above the pastor).

The church dynamic is very different than what it originally was in Biblical times. Paul was the one who coined the word “Christian;” Jesus never used it or even alluded to it. He told people to follow the calling that God put in their lives and to have fellowship with one another. There of course were the teachers—because believe me, I could not function completely on my own when it comes to the Bible without good teachers—but they give insight and teach to their greatest understanding of what God wants them to teach. You don’t have to look far for the corruption of the church and the mistakes that are made within the church’s understanding of Biblical passages and laws (of the Old Testament).

Saying something is Biblical and not Christian is an interesting idea, even for me. After giving this a lot of thought, my main conclusion is that when the group talked about the tithe as Biblical and not Christian is that the Old Testament is no longer followed as law in the Christian church. Because Christians don’t follow the Old Testament law, even though it is in the Bible, the idea of tithing is not “Christian.” Tithing is also defined as giving a certain portion of (all of) your income and possessions to God. Today, churches use the words "tithing" and "giving" interchangeably, even though they are completely different concepts. I believe that the creator of the group meant to get rid of the use of the word "tithing" as an obligation instead of a personal calling.

There are ideas that Christians have put into their interpretations of the Bible—therefore, making an idea “Christian” but not necessarily Biblical. God intended a lot of things that may not be lived out in the modern church. Specifically, you asked about giving to the church. The idea of giving to the church is a modern idea. In the Bible, God calls His followers to give to the poor, the hungry, and the needy. In Matthew 19:21, Jesus told the rich man to “sell your possessions and give to the poor…” Giving to the poor is not code for “give to the church.” Jesus cared about the poor and the outcasts, and he calls his followers to do the same. Any mention of tithing is mentioned in the Old Testament. It was in Leviticus and Numbers, but in both of those passages, they talked about tithing your possessions (and everything else… See Lev. 27:30) and giving them to God. It does not say the church, because there was no such thing as the church back then. God called His people to tithe to Him, sacrificing yourself and your possessions for God.

In regards to the fact that the commands about tithing are all in the Old Testament, one must not ignore that. When Jesus came, he got rid of the old covenant. In Luke 22:20, 1 Corinthians 11:25, and Hebrews 9:25 and 12:24, they all talk about Jesus being the new covenant. We are no longer under the old law. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t give to the church or the poor or whomever else God calls you to give to. I am saying that we are no longer required to. Our relationship with God became very personal when Jesus came and died for us. We no longer had to do anything, but could choose and listen to see where God was taking us and directing us individually instead of as an entire community. By saying that Jesus is the new covenant (and not following the old covenant and laws) is not dismissing the Bible. It is the history and there are many things to be learned through the Old Testament laws, but they do not direct our life any more. If God did not want us to learn something from the Old Testament, it wouldn’t be in the Bible. But it shouldn’t be taken as laws, and should definitely not be used to pick and choose which laws we should still be following. It’s an all or nothing kind of thing. God called His people to tithe—no longer a law, but a choice and a calling. Personally, I have rarely tithed to a church. I use it to give where I hear God calling me to give—World Vision, Unitus, lunch with a friend who is short on cash, coffee for the stranger behind me in line, etc. That is God’s church, not necessarily the building.

The Bible does talk about giving to support pastors (or leaders, I’m not really sure where that passage is…) so if that is what God has called you to do, that’s awesome! There is nothing wrong or unbiblical about that. Do what God has called you to do. A lot of pastors are solely supported financially by the giving of the church members, so I am not disregarding the need for giving to the church. However, one cannot discount that other’s calling may be to give to the poor (and not the church as a building). Both are Biblical. Although, one is not always considered “Christian” because most churches teach that the only way to give is to give to the church. It all comes down to interpretation and personal conviction and calling on your life.