Ramesh, I guess I’m a ‘”no” then. Tithing fulfills any rock-bottom moral obligation Gibson has. Of course, if he has indeed undergone the kind of spiritual transformation he has talked about, one would hope to see that reflected in the rest of his life and work in many ways, but I think he has to figure out what that looks like. Personally, I’m not the least bit bothered by his profits—he has made a movie that, whatever its artistic flaws, is a great act of Christian witness for which we should be grateful. For me, that’s plenty enough, however the rest of his career or life plays out.
E-mail:
“I sent this to Jonah earlier, but after your comment I wanted to send it to you also. The Old Testament requirement was to give 10%: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse”, with a resultant outpouring of God’s blessings. The New Testament certainly doesn’t abrogate that, but Paul does say in 2nd Corinthians “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” If Mel’s profits are $350-400 million, it seems that he should give $35-40 million to his church, or wherever he decides. Beyond that, what he gives is pretty much up to him, and what he keeps is pretty much up to him.”