The Fallacy of Equating Anything with the Great Commission
The final fallacy we need to address that influences adherence to the required at least 10% tithe is equating tithing with the Great Commission. Due to the importance of the Great Commission, different groups try to connect their issue of choice to it to attempt to gain significance. For example, there are some who try to suggest that discussing sexual identity issues can become an impediment to sharing the gospel with those within the LGBTQFA+ “community” (another issue for another discussion) and, therefore, we must “affirm” these folks in order to avoid this obstacle and for them to receive the Gospel. Thus, claiming sexuality identity sensitivity is a “gospel issue” gives it importance. While Floyd is clearly NOT doing exactly this, he is clearly making tithing a “gospel issue” in this way. Floyd is directly connecting our ability to fulfill the Great Commission with our willingness or lack of obedience to adhering to the required at least 10% tithe.
In his final week of study on tithing, Floyd attempts to establish a firm connection between a required at least 10% tithe and our ongoing obligations as a result of the Great Commission. Before doing so, he makes a clear and demonstrably true introductory statement:
Quite honestly, the church has done a poor job of teaching people the principles of biblical stewardship and helping them find purpose in living out these principles. Money and resources are often hush-hush conversation in churches. How can this be? Jesus talked freely and openly with others about money and resources. Today, this subject has been silenced in most churches. This is not God’s intention. An improper understanding of biblical stewardship will result in money and resources becoming stumbling blocks in your personal walk with Christ. Again, this is not God’s intention.
Ronnie Floyd. TEN PERCENT: A Call to Biblical Stewardship (Nashville: Convention Press and Ronnie W. Floyd, 2020), 89.
Yes! This probably should and could have been the focus on this entire study rather than going down the rabbit trail of trying to manipulate into adhering to tithing. Floyd correctly continues:
Living out biblical stewardship stretches between two bookends: On one end, God owns everything, and on the other end is living in obedience to reach every person for Jesus Christ across the entire world. In other words, we have Good News for the whole world, and we must do all we can with all we have to see this Good News given to every person, everywhere.
Ronnie Floyd. TEN PERCENT: A Call to Biblical Stewardship (Nashville: Convention Press and Ronnie W. Floyd, 2020), 90.
Floyd uses most of the sermon for this week to highlight the importance of the connection between stewardship and the Great Commission. Floyd emphasizes a quote from Austin Crouch, the first president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee in 1938: “’Stewardship should never be divorced from evangelism.’” Then, through commentary on Philippians 4:10-20, he correctly asserts we need to do three things in regards to the Great Commission: 1) “Reset your focus” (Floyd, 92), 2) “Realign your giving” (Floyd, 94) and 3) “Renew your confidence in God.” (Floyd, 97)
First, Floyd clearly states that the Gospel is “for” and “to” all people then references both Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8 to say the following:
From our ministry to children, students, young adults, to adults of all ages and seasons of life, as well as our entire church, we must reset our lives and church on the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. Our personal and church stewardship practices should never be divorced from evangelism.
Ronnie Floyd. TEN PERCENT: A Call to Biblical Stewardship (Nashville: Convention Press and Ronnie W. Floyd, 2020), 93.
He further points out that Paul, in his expression of appreciation for the church at Philippi, says that they gave multiple gifts to Paul and no other church gave more than them. Therefore, Floyd encourages us, “Reset your focus on the Great Commission always.”
Second, Floyd further reflects on the Philippians passage by correctly identifying that realigning our giving results in an ability to expand the Gospel, eternal rewards for the giver and the overall mission of the church benefits: “The end result is the gospel is advanced, churches are planted, people are saved, missionaries are sent, pastors and God-called leaders are equipped, and compassion is experienced in times of need. The mission prospers!” Yes! He continues by highlighting the work of the Southern Baptist Convention through such giving efforts as the Cooperative Program the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.
Thirdly, Floyd continues to reflect on the grace of God; because God always provides, we should renew our confidence:
Our needs are grounded in God’s grace. God knows our needs even before we have them. When we share what we have for the purpose of advancing the gospel, we can walk in the confidence and faithfulness of God alone, knowing He will take care of us.
Ronnie Floyd. TEN PERCENT: A Call to Biblical Stewardship (Nashville: Convention Press and Ronnie W. Floyd, 2020), 98.
He then properly reflects on Paul’s declaration that he can do “all things through Christ” in Philippians 4:13:
He affirmed that whatever life throws our way — deprivation, adversity, despair on one hand, or plenty, abundance, jubilation on the other — we only find lasting contentment, satisfaction, and fulfillment in the indwelling Christ who strengthens us.
Ronnie Floyd. TEN PERCENT: A Call to Biblical Stewardship (Nashville: Convention Press and Ronnie W. Floyd, 2020), 98.
So, reset, realign and renew. Again, Yes!
Regrettably, Floyd makes two assertions that distort and misdirect from this admonition to reset, realign and renew. First, he claims that the results of Gospel expansion, eternal rewards and mission successes are caused by us giving “the first ten percent to our church and then also practice over and above giving in our lives.” (Floyd, 98) Where does Paul link the obvious over and above giving from the church at Philippi to their adherence to tithing? Where does Paul suggest that tithing is the direct cause of their giving? He doesn’t! Even if Floyd’s claims that Paul didn’t mention tithing because he didn’t need to, this would be a perfect opportunity for Paul to thank them for their obedience to the tithe and emphasize the results of such tithing. There was no need to thank them for tithing because tithing was NOT INVOLVED!
Secondly, Floyd’s final statement in this sermon distorts his encouragements to reset, realign and renew and makes a direct link between a required at least 10% tithe and our ongoing obligations as a result of the Great Commission. He claims, “When we give God’s way, we are in partnership with God to bring every ethnicity to saving faith in Jesus Christ.” (Floyd, 100) “God’s way”? Floyd has clearly and repeatedly asserted that his definition of “God’s way” is a currently required at least 10% tithe that is primarily grounded in an earthly work(tithe)/reward dynamic. Then, here, Floyd makes his closing statement- a currently required at least 10% tithe is now irreversibly connected to our obligation to the Great Commission.
Although the small group session for this last sermon repeats this erroneous connection, Floyd does make a concluding statement worth repeating:
Participation in the Great Commission is not limited to pastors, preachers, or “super Christians.” Making disciples of all people is every believer’s assignment. Ephesians 4 teaches the pastor/teacher’s duty is to equip the saints (every believer) to do the work of the ministry and to build up the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-13
He correctly continues on to bring the small group members to reflect on their participation in the furtherance of the Gospel and to name their “one” person whom they want to actively share the Gospel.