The recent questions on tithing have got me thinking.  If someone gives out of their personal funds to things related to their specific congregation… say, they buy class materials or pitch in for building upkeep.  Could that be considered as part of their giving for the week?  We are on a strict budget and sometimes have to buy things for the church but feel bad if when the collection plate rolls around on Sunday morning, we’ve already spent that money earlier in the week.

Sincerely,
On A Shoestring

Dear On A Shoestring,

There is nothing wrong with factoring other spending you do on behalf of the church into your giving, but the biggest thing you need to do is to factor these things in at the beginning and not when Sunday rolls around.  2 Cor 9:7 says that we should “purpose in our hearts” what we should give, and 1 Cor 16:1-3 talks about giving in a purposeful, planned way.  If we are reading your question right, what is happening is that you have a budget, and whatever is left at the end of that budget is what you give.  That is the opposite of how giving should be done.  When you first get money, you should plan ahead what you will give (factor in extra church giving expenditures you may need to prepare for), set that money aside, and then the decision is made well before the plate comes by.  That way, you can feel confident that what you are giving is purposeful and cheerfully planned.

What does tithing really mean?

Sincerely,
Money In The Bank

Dear Money In The Bank,

The New Testament and Old Testament teachings on giving are similar… but not the same.  The Old Testament was very specific that giving should be a minimum of ten percent (Deu 14:22).  The word ‘tithe’ means ‘one-tenth’.

However, the New Testament teaching is more generic.  Though ten percent is a good rule of thumb (after all, the Old Testament is given to us as an example – 1 Cor 10:11), christians are simply told to “give as they have prospered” (1 Cor 16:1-2).  God tells us to be cheerful givers (2 Cor 9:7), but He never specifically says how much christians should give.  That is an issue of wisdom and is left for each individual heart to work out for itself (Php 2:12). The specific rule of giving one-tenth of our income no longer applies; instead, we are told to examine our hearts and give thankfully.

I give offerings every time I have money during worship, and I set aside funds for it beforehand.  But there are some who become disappointed in me and crucify me for not putting in the amount they often believe to be sufficient.  How can I deal with those of the brethren who bring this kind of condemnation?

Sincerely,
Condemned For Finance

Dear Condemned For Finances,

When people question the amount of money you put into the offering, show them 2 Cor 9:7 which says that each should give as “he has purposed in his heart”.  You must stand before God and answer to Him for what you gave and what you didn’t.  You are responsible for what your heart purposes, and they are responsible for theirs.  Show them 2 Cor 9:7 and then kindly walk away.

     The first lady (the title for our pastor’s wife) sent out an e-mail to the leaders of the church containing a grocery, toiletry, and cleaning supply list which details the first family’s needs for the month of November.  The leaders passed out the list to the entire congregation last Sunday.  They want everyone in the congregation to contribute to all fifteen items each week.  There are fifteen items on the list for week one, fifteen items for week two, and fifteen items for week three.  On week four, they are asking for a monetary donation of at least ten dollars from each member.  We have one hundred members.  Should we comply with this list?  The pastor and his wife are well-off.  They have three luxury cars and a four-bedroom house with a two-car garage… while most of the people in the congregation, including myself, can’t afford food and have to go to the food bank each month.  They told us that 100% of the items will go to the first family and that God will bless us for doing so. Please advise.

Sincerely,
Church Mouse

Dear Church Mouse,

We get buckets of questions from people asking for help because every church they find seems to only care about money… it’s horrid what people have done in the name of religion.  Unfortunately, there is nothing new under the sun (Eccl 1:9).  Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for the same greedy behavior (Lk 20:46-47).

In the end, you want to be a Christian – not a Baptist, Methodist, Calvinist, Lutheran, etc.  Baptist churches only make Baptists, Methodist churches only make Methodists, and so on.  You need to find a church that belongs to Christ, not men.  This “first family” has warped and twisted the Scriptures to make religion all about them… and not about God.  Such people have a very strict judgment awaiting them (Jas 3:1).  We would be happy to help you find a faithful church that will teach the Bible and leave all the manmade garbage out.  E-mail us at askyourpreacher@mvchurchofchrist.org if you would like help finding a peaceful, faithful, and godly church to attend in your area.

     Your answers about tithing have been very biblical and correct.  Thank you.  And I already know your thoughts on our responsibilities as stewards of those funds… so what do you think about a huge treasury?  If we are to be using these funds to do God’s will, then how can we justify, as His church, “storing up for ourselves on earth”?  I mean, if we are to give of our means and know that God will take care of us… then why does His church need to try and keep bulk money in the account?

Sincerely,
Not A Hoarder

Dear Not A Hoarder,

A congregation’s leadership would have the same reason for saving money as an individual would – savings is part of stewardship.  If someone lives their life without a “rainy day” fund, we consider them unwise.  Congregations have regular expenses and unexpected expenses – the problem with unexpected expenses is that you don’t expect them!  God says that we must be wise stewards in all that we do (Lk 12:42-43, Matt 25:23).  It is possible for a congregation to hoard money – this is wrong.  It is also possible for a congregation to spend their money unwisely and not prepare for future expenses – this also is wrong.  As in all issues of wisdom, there is a balance.  You are right that churches should be using the funds they collect to do God’s will – that isn’t in question.  The question is simply how and when to use those funds.  That is trickier and requires wise elders to properly manage each individual church’s finances (1 Tim 3:5).

     I am happy to write to you.  I am wanting to know how you conduct your worship on Sundays.

God bless you.

Sincerely,
Looking For Order

Dear Looking For Order,

The Bible gives us examples and commands for five different elements to the public worship.

1. Teaching/Preaching (1 Cor 4:17)
2. Singing (Eph 5:19)
3. Prayer (Acts 12:5)
4. Taking A Collection – Sunday only (1 Cor 16:1-2)
5. Lord’s Supper – Sunday only (Acts 20:7)

Of these five elements, two of them are specifically allowed only on Sundays.  The others can be done any time the brethren get together.  The congregation here in Monroe, WA is a simple New Testament congregation, and our worship is just what you find in the Bible.

According to Mark 11:17, Jesus was angered by the venders selling doves and other merchandise (assumingly for sacrifice) outside and in the Temple. But isn’t it true that those who came afar would sell livestock that they would normally sacrifice and bring money to the temple to buy a sacrifice?  This being favorable over traveling with a live sacrifice that might not survive a journey?  It is easier to travel with money than live animals that could easily be bought at the temple.  Today, we have Christian stores attached to churches that sell trinkets, jewelry, license plates, decorations, etc.  Is this also wrong?

Sincerely,
Peddlers for the People?

Dear Peddlers for the People,

Jesus wasn’t just angered that they were selling things but that they were doing it at the temple and in its courtyards… a place that was supposed to be focused on worshipping God and prayer (Lk 19:46).  On top of that, Jesus said that they were “robbers” because the people who were selling things were charging a premium to make money off of the foreign travelers who couldn’t bring their own livestock ­– a bit like popcorn at the movie theater costs a whole lot more because they can get away with charging it.  Furthermore, Matt 21:12 mentions that there were moneychangers there.  The Jewish priesthood instituted a rule that you could only contribute Jewish money to the temple, so they could make more money off of people who had to convert their Roman currency to Jewish coins.  They made money off of the exchange rate.  It was all about making money.

Separate, but similar, churches that are making money off of various things like coffee stands in the foyers, book sales, jewelry, etc. are exploiting people for more money.  God says how the church should collect funds – through a voluntary offerings from christians on the first day of the week (1 Cor 16:1-2).

     I give 10% of my income bi-weekly (tithes) as instructed from the church.  I give offerings as afforded, as instructed by my church.  I know the lights need to be paid, the mortgage paid, and the needy assisted when they go to the church for assistance.  I can see why we should give to the church who serve the people.  But, I need to know; is tithing a commandment that will truly bring on a curse to the withholder and blessings on the giver? (Malachi 3:8-9)  I have struggled financially and wonder if it means I have no faith if I give less than 10%.  I mean, tithes and offerings are necessary, but many churches need money to sustain itself, a place to worship, a place to fellowship with other saints.  Does God need my money to show I believe He will provide for me?  Is it a form of sacrifice to the temple or a means to take care of the church?  I struggle with the Old Testament applicability today.

Sincerely,
Perplexed Giver

Dear Perplexed Giver,

Mal 3:8-10 teaches some principles about giving, but it doesn’t uphold the “10% or doom” preaching that many money-grubbing churches constantly harp on.  Tithing is a Jewish commandment, not a christian one (more on this in a bit), but the Old Testament is full of examples that give us principles to live by (1 Cor 10:11).  The principle behind Mal 3:8-10 is that when we give to God as He asks, He will bless us for our faithful trust in Him.  This is true in our finances and in every other area of life.  However, just because we give financially doesn’t mean that we won’t ever suffer or have needs.  The belief that giving to God will always get you more money is called the ‘Prosperity Gospel’ – read “Cash Cow” for specifics on that false doctrine.

Now, let’s deal with the specifics of tithing.  Tithing is an Old Testament commandment (Num 18:24), not a New Testament one.  Jews tithe; christians “lay by in store as we have prospered” (1 Cor 16:1-3).  God doesn’t give a specific percentage that christians should contribute.  We must prepare beforehand what we will give (that’s the “lay by in store” part – 1 Cor 16:2).  He also commands that we be “cheerful givers” and that we give as we have “purposed in our hearts” (2 Cor 9:7).  Though tithing (which means ‘one tenth’) is a good rule of thumb for giving… it isn’t a command. The church is instructed by God to take up a collection once a week – you must decide for yourself what a cheerful and faithful giver looks like.

     I had a preacher to explain to me that it is more important to pay your association dues than to help elderly people in need at the church.  Is this what tithing and offering is all about?  I looked in my Bible, but I can’t seem to locate what tithing and offering is and what GOD said it was for.  Help me, please.

Sincerely,
Writing The Check

Dear Writing The Check,

That preacher is wrong on so many accounts.  First of all, there are no such things as “association dues” in the Lord’s church.  In the New Testament, christians are supposed to give cheerfully and voluntarily (2 Cor 9:7).  There is no set amount that we are supposed to give; we are simply told to give as we have prospered every first day of the week (1 Cor 16:1-2).  Tithing (‘tithe’ means ‘ten percent’) is an Old Testament command that Jews had to follow, not a New Testament one for christians.  Jews were required to give ten percent, but christians are never given specifics.

As for saying that it is more important to pay your association dues than to help elderly people in need – that is the sort of thing Jesus said that a greedy, false teacher would say (Lk 20:47).

A coworker and I had a discussion on tithing.  He is a member of the Church of God (not the biblical one).  Well, he was saying 1 Cor. 16:2 is referring to the support a congregation gives to mission work; he says that Paul was doing mission work going town to town.  Now, I told him I would have to get back to him on that.  To me, it kind of seems like that MIGHT have been the case.  I understand that the Old Law died with Jesus.  What is good Scripture to show that we do or do not tithe?  How much do we give if a certain amount is not commanded?

Sincerely,
Signing The Check

Dear Signing The Check,

The New Testament and Old Testament teachings on giving are similar… but not the same.  The Old Testament was very specific that giving should be a minimum of ten percent (Deut 14:22).  The word ‘tithe’ means ‘one-tenth’.  However, we don’t obey Old Testament laws because we are no longer under that law (Gal 3:23-25).  If your coworker wants to teach that you must tithe, he needs to provide you with a New Testament verse for that teaching.  It is his responsibility to provide a command or example for specific giving amounts, not your responsibility to disprove it.

In the New Testament, we see a more generic teaching on giving.  Though ten percent is a good rule of thumb (after all, the Old Testament is given to us as an example – 1 Cor 10:11), christians are simply told to “give as they have prospered” (1 Cor 16:1-2) and to be cheerful givers (2 Cor 9:7), but God never specifically says how much christians should give.  That is an issue of wisdom and is left for each individual heart to work out for itself (Php 2:12).  The specific rule of giving one-tenth of our income no longer applies; instead, we are told to examine our hearts and give thankfully.  1 Cor 16:2 does deal with collecting money for the needy saints in Jerusalem, but it is also the only New Testament pattern we have for when and how the church should collect money, so the principles would apply.

     Is money given to the Lord attached to a particular church location, or is it to be used by the members that gave it?  For example, when a church dissolves its membership, if the money is simply “the Lord’s”, can it be used by another body of Christ for the Lord’s work?

Sincerely,
Membership Required

Dear Membership Required,

The location of the building isn’t the important thing; it is the organization of people who are guided by the elders that makes up a congregation (Php 1:1).  The elders are in charge of properly using the money that sits in the local treasury (Acts 11:29-30).  The local congregation’s leadership is held accountable for the distribution and use of the church’s funds.  This Bible pattern ties the money to the congregation (even if they move down the street), not the specific physical building they meet in.

In the sad circumstance that a congregation dissolves, the faithful thing to do is to make sure the funds are properly used before dissolving – and one proper use would be to give the funds to another faithful congregation that could use them – just like Acts 11:29-30 shows.

     What is the difference between tithing and offering?  Do we still give tithes and offerings?  Who does it apply to?  What or how much do we give, and why do we give?

Sincerely,
Give Me The Facts

Dear Give Me The Facts,

The New Testament and Old Testament teachings on giving are similar… but not the same.  The Old Testament was very specific that giving should be a minimum of ten percent (Deu 14:22).  The word ‘tithe’ means ‘one-tenth’.

However, the New Testament teaching is more generic.  Though ten percent is a good rule of thumb (after all, the Old Testament is given to us as an example – 1 Cor 10:11), christians are simply told to “give as they have prospered” (1 Cor 16:1-2).  God tells us to be cheerful givers (2 Cor 9:7), but He never specifically says how much christians should give.  That is an issue of wisdom and is left for each individual heart to work out for itself (Php 2:12). The specific rule of giving one-tenth of our income no longer applies; instead, we are told to examine our hearts and give thankfully.

If a church has money, as in a treasury, but the church is the people… if a congregation experienced 100% turnover in members, whose money is it? Suppose a small group of twelve members had a treasury of $30,000 and owned a building.  If two families moved, but a new family moved into town about the same time, could they just inherit the church’s treasury as their own?  How can a treasury of money be stored for generations and generations where the same members weren’t there who gave to it in the first place?  It seems like we have created an idea that the local church is an organization in and of itself apart from the people that define it.  We then give money to the organization, like giving to the Rotary club, and it doesn’t matter who the people are; the “club” still possesses the money.  Is this the biblical example?

Sincerely,
Membership Required

Dear Membership Required,

The local church is greater than the individuals that comprise it.  The local church is made up of the christians that meet in that particular location (like the saints that met in Corinth – 1 Cor 1:2 or the saints that met in Thessalonica – Php 1:1).  When a christian leaves that local area and attends elsewhere, they cease to be a member of that local congregation.  Over time, almost every congregation sees a complete (or near complete) turnover of its membership.  Christians have, and always will, be moving away because of jobs, life changes, retirement, etc.

This isn’t a problem because the church’s treasury doesn’t belong to the members – when new members come in, they don’t inherit anything because it belongs to the Lord, not us.  When churches take up a collection on the first day of the week (1 Cor 16:1-2), it is money that is collected from the christians and dedicated to the Lord’s work.

     Why do preachers that live by the gospel give money to the gospel?    And are they required by God to give as others are commanded to give?

Sincerely,
Where’s The Wallet?

Dear Where’s The Wallet,

Congregations are allowed to support their preachers financially (1 Cor 9:14), but preachers are still just men.  The rules for giving back to the Lord are no different for preachers than they are for any other christian.  God tells us all to be cheerful givers (2 Cor 9:7) and to give as we have prospered every first day of the week (1 Cor 16:1-2).  This is true for preachers just like everyone else.

In fact, this principle was even true in the Old Testament.  The Levitical priesthood (not that preachers are priests!) made their living from the offerings received at the temple, but they were still required to tithe just like everyone else (Num 18:26).

Why do we still struggle when we give tithes and offerings?

Sincerely,
Giving Up

Dear Giving Up,

The teaching that we will never struggle if we give enough money to God is called ‘The Prosperity Gospel’ and it is a false teaching.  The prosperity gospel doctrine teaches that the more faith you have, the more money, health, power, etc. you will receive.  They teach that all sicknesses, poverty, and suffering are caused by a lack of faith.  This is simply wrong.

Jesus suffered more than anyone – and yet He was perfectly faithful and never sinned (Heb 4:15).  When Jesus was asked why a certain man was blind, His answer was, “That God’s works could be revealed in Him” (Jhn 9:1-3).  That blind man wasn’t blind because He had sinned, He was blind because it gave God an opportunity to use him.  The apostle Paul had a “thorn in the flesh” (some sort of sickness) that God gave him… even though Paul was exceptionally faithful (2 Cor 12:7).  Job suffered at the hands of Satan BECAUSE he was so faithful (Job 1:8).  And last, but not least, God clearly states that we must suffer in order to enter the kingdom of heaven (Acts 14:22).

The idea that serving Christ will provide you with every physical blessing you could ever want is a perversion of the Scriptures.  It is a preaching that is based upon selfishness and the love of money – both of which God abhors (2 Tim 3:2, 1 Tim 6:10).  Christians should condemn and flee from this kind of false teaching.  Don’t let anyone rob you of your hope by feeding you a teaching that says you only suffer because you aren’t giving enough money.

What is the purpose of tithing, and does the end of Malachi still pertain to us today?  I’ve come to view tithing as a way of trusting that God will always supply your needs and also to allow His Word to spread through funding preachers and churches.  In this respect, the meaning would be synonymous with the Israelites and their requirement to tithe.  Are we still required to tithe?  Does the end of Malachi (the one time God says to test Him) still pertain to our generation?  Or was that verse solely meant for the people of that era?  Are we still allowed to test God to open up the windows of heaven and pour out blessings?  I have been tithing for a while, and I have seen God supply me with what I need, but now… things aren’t looking so great, and I’m starting to get really worried that He might be letting me go into a state of need.  Do I have the correct mindset for this Bible lesson?

Sincerely,
Feeling Slim

Dear Feeling Slim,

The verses you are referring to are Mal 3:8-10.  Tithing is a Jewish commandment, not a christian one (more on this in a bit), but the Old Testament is full of examples that give us principles to live by (1 Cor 10:11).  The principle behind Mal 3:8-10 is that when we give to God as He asks, He will bless us for our faithful trust in Him.  This is true in our finances and in every other area of life.  However, just because we give financially doesn’t mean that we won’t ever suffer or have needs.  The belief that giving to God will always get you more money is called the ‘Prosperity Gospel’ – read “Cash Cow” for specifics on that false doctrine.

Now let’s deal with the specifics of tithing.  Tithing is an Old Testament commandment (Num 18:24), not a New Testament one.  Jews tithe; christians “lay by in store as we have prospered” (1 Cor 16:1-3).  God doesn’t give a specific percentage that christians should give back.  We must prepare beforehand what we will give (that’s the “lay by in store” part – 1 Cor 16:2).  He also commands that we be “cheerful givers” and that we give as we have “purposed in our hearts” (2 Cor 9:7).  Though tithing (which means ‘one tenth’) is a good rule of thumb for giving… it isn’t a command.

So… if this line of reason is followed, it is NOT acceptable for me to give financially on say, Friday or Tuesday?  Was it not just out of convenience that they were told to collect when they met together on the first day of the week?

Sincerely,
Cheerful Giver

Dear Cheerful Giver,

1 Cor 16:1-2 is a commandment for how a congregation is supposed to collect funds.  An individual has the freedom to give to any cause and any need whenever they please (Gal 6:10), but a congregation should never solicit funds except on Sunday and only from its members.  There are commands for individual christians, and there are commands for congregations.  1 Cor 16:1-2 specifically says that it is a command to local churches.  The Scriptures never say that the timing was only a matter of convenience; instead, they specifically state that it was an apostolic command.  We are warned to not go beyond what is written in the Scriptures (1 Cor 4:6).  If we begin to say that certain Bible commands are only issues of convenience – we are stating something that can’t be found in the Scriptures.

In addition to the article referenced above, are we as His church today “commanded” to give as a part of our worship?  The Corinthian church was given charge to give for a specific reason.  Should we give not only money but time and everything else God has given us with a good and cheerful heart (not just when we assemble)?

Sincerely,
Cheerful Giver

Dear Cheerful Giver,

Individual christians are called to give to God every part of their life – not just their money.  Paul said it best when he explained a christian’s life should be a “living sacrifice” (Rom 12:1).  However, the question we dealt with in the post “Tax Deductible” dealt only with financial giving to the church.  The verse we cited, 1 Cor 16:1-2, is the only example we are given of how a local congregation should gather money.  If a congregation wants to make sure it is following God’s wishes, it must use Bible patterns for its behavior.  It is true that a congregation doesn’t have to take up a collection on Sunday if there isn’t a financial need… but as long as there are needy christians, expenses for worship, local and international evangelists to support, and the truth to teach… the church is going to have financial needs.  If a congregation needs to collect money, it is given a Bible pattern for how and when to do that – collect on the first day of the week as each member purposes in their heart to offer.

Are christians supposed to tithe?  If so, can you prove it in the Old and New Testament… prove it with more than one Scripture in the New Testament?  Please!!!

Sincerely,
Ten Percent Off

Dear Ten Percent Off,

The New Testament and Old Testament teachings on giving are similar… but not the same.  The Old Testament was very specific that giving should be a minimum of ten percent (Deu 14:22).  The word ‘tithe’ means ‘one-tenth’.

However, the New Testament teaching is more generic.  Though ten percent is a good rule of thumb (after all, the Old Testament is given to us as an example – 1 Cor 10:11), christians are simply told to “give as they have prospered” (1 Cor 16:1-2).  God tells us to be cheerful givers (2 Cor 9:7), but He never specifically says how much christians should give.  That is an issue of wisdom and is left for each individual heart to work out for itself (Php 2:12).

My question is about tithing.  I was faithful to tithe 10% of my income since I was a teenager with my first job.  Through utter foolishness and some things that happened out of our control, my family is in such debt that our payments and fees for all our bills and debts leave us overdrawn multiple times throughout the month (pitiful, we have a very good income and both work full-time).  We have over-extended ourselves, sometimes to take care of necessities, sometimes out of buying things that we don’t really need, but we also aren’t really in the lap of luxury either.  We’ve had no vacations, etc. but definitely have overspent, too.  I’m so sorry, and I repent, but now we are drowning in debt.  We have three wonderful girls, and they are going to be affected in many ways, and I feel terrible.  The worst is that we haven’t been tithing because of the money issues and because there is not the 10% available, so I have been doing nothing as opposed to giving a pitiful offering when we make such a good income.  At the same time, we haven’t been curbing our spending much except for when the money runs out.  I recently read something about how this kind of thing is “trading freedom for luxury”, and we are guilty of that.  There is some kind of disconnect for me between my thinking and reality.  We have had a lot of monetary disasters, too, like engines going out in cars, etc.

I have two questions: are we still supposed to tithe 10% like the Old Testament mentions (believe me, I would give Him more if I wasn’t in this position), or are we under “give as you are able, and give cheerfully”?  There are so many varying viewpoints out there on what the Bible says we should be doing now under the New Covenant.  I WANT to tithe; I’m not looking for an excuse not to, but the guilt of not giving 10% combined with the stress of running out of money throughout the month (plus interest, plus late fees, plus overdrawn fees) is killing me.  Unless God does a miracle, we have no way out of this mess because the minimum payment pays nothing down, and we have NO extra money to make extra payments on anything.

So, my second question is: will you please PRAY for my family that God will provide some kind of ability for us to repay this debt?  We have always paid our bills, and I don’t even want to think of bankruptcy because to me, that is like stealing.  I know we got ourselves here, and there are consequences for our sin, but I also know that God has compassion on us and doesn’t want us to be in bondage.

Thank you so very much!  This is a great forum; I appreciate you offering this!  We are local folks, so knowing that someone from here is willing to address these kinds of questions is a huge blessing.

Sincerely,
Drowning

Dear Drowning,

Let’s answer the second question first: yes, we most definitely will pray for you.  Financial burdens are a huge weight to bear, and having counseled many couples over the years through financial hardships, we know what a toll it takes on a marriage, self-esteem, spiritual growth, families, and thousands of other aspects of life.  We appreciate your attitude and desire to do what is right – an honest approach to one’s shortcomings is refreshing in today’s society.

Now back to the first question… tithing is an Old Testament commandment (Num 18:24), not a New Testament one.  Jews tithe; christians “lay by in store as we have prospered” (1 Cor 16:1-3).  God doesn’t give a specific percentage that christians should give back.  We must prepare beforehand what we will give (that’s the “lay by in store” part – 1 Cor 16:2).  He also commands that we be “cheerful givers” and that we give as we have “purposed in our hearts” (2 Cor 9:7).  Though tithing, which means ‘one tenth’, is a good rule of thumb for giving… it isn’t a command.

Any church that tells you that you have to give 10% is warping the Scriptures to increase your contribution.  Giving should be a sacrifice – but a voluntary one based off of thoughtful contemplation.  Your family needs to begin to budget appropriately and make some difficult financial decisions.  In that process, you can take an introspective look at your finances and decide what you can cheerfully give without endangering your family (1 Tim. 5:8) while still feeling comfortable that you aren’t neglecting the Lord’s work.

Hi.  Hope you are having a wonderful day.  I have a question.  I know that if you sow financial seed, you can receive a harvest from God, but what I want to know is: can I also sow financial seed to receive a healing from God???

Sincerely,
Medical Costs?

Dear Medical Costs,

Whoever told you that you are guaranteed a financial harvest by giving to God is misinterpreting the meaning of 2 Cor 9:6.  The idea that we get financial gain by giving more to churches is a heretical teaching that very conveniently happens to sow financial prosperity for churches… regardless of what happens to the people they are preaching to.  This teaching is often referred to as “the prosperity gospel” and is wrong (read our article “Cash Cow” for further details on that false doctrine).  Suffice it to say, sometimes God blesses giving people with financial blessings, but other times, truly godly people suffer through great financial struggles.

We don’t know what physical ailment you wish to have healed, but more money in the contribution plate isn’t the answer, and if your church is telling you that it is – you need to find a new church!  We can help with that if you’d like (e-mail us at askyourpreacher@mvchurchofchrist.org).  God tells us to pray when we are sick and to have others pray for us as well (Jas 5:14).  Righteous prayers do more good than we can ever imagine (Pr 15:29, Jas 5:16).  Live faithfully and trust that God is in control (Ps 46:10).

Should my pastor ask me how much I make on my job and how much tithes and offerings I will be giving?

Sincerely,
Not An Open Pocketbook

Dear Not An Open Pocketbook,

No, it isn’t right to grill people in regards to their income… in fact, tithing isn’t even a commandment in the New Testament.  In the New Testament (which is the law that christians follow), we are told to “give cheerfully” and “give as we have purposed” (2 Cor 9:7).  Ten percent is a good rule of thumb because we see that being the standard in the Old Testament, but it isn’t a requirement.  If any congregation teaches that you have to give ten percent (or any specific amount) to be a member of the church – it is a false church.  That kind of teaching goes beyond the Scriptures and should be condemned for its arrogance (1 Cor 4:6).  On the first day of the week (Sunday), the church should take up a collection from the christians, and each member must decide for themselves to give as they have been prospered (1 Cor 16:1-2).  The religious world is full of greedy and covetous religious leaders, and they are wrong (Tit 1:10-11).  If you would like help finding a congregation that is faithful to God’s Word in your area, please e-mail us at askyourpreacher@mvchurchofchrist.org.

About tithing: is it right or wrong?  Gross or net?  10% or more?  Clear this up; I need help.  I put in my 10% or more from my check (the net amount).  Am I right or wrong?

Sincerely,
The Accountant

Dear The Accountant,

Tithing is an Old Testament commandment (Num 18:24), not a New Testament one.  Jews tithe; christians “lay by in store as we have prospered” (1 Cor 16:1-3).  God doesn’t give a specific percentage that christians should give back.  We must prepare beforehand what we will give (that’s the “lay by in store” part – 1 Cor 16:2).  He also commands that we be “cheerful givers” and that we give as we have “purposed in our hearts” (2 Cor 9:7).  Though tithing, which means ‘one tenth’, is a good rule of thumb for giving… it isn’t a command.

Any church that tells you that you have to give 10% is warping the Scriptures to increase your contribution.  Giving should be a sacrifice – but a voluntary one based off of thoughtful contemplation.

Scriptural view on tithing?  What does the New Testament say about it?

Sincerely,
The Giver

Dear The Giver,

The New Testament and Old Testament teachings on giving are similar… but not the same.  The Old Testament was very specific that giving should be a minimum of ten percent (Deu 14:22).  The word ‘tithe’ means ‘one-tenth’.

However, the New Testament teaching is more generic.  Though ten percent is a good rule of thumb (after all, the Old Testament is given to us as an example – 1 Cor 10:11), christians are simply told to “give as they have prospered” (1 Cor 16:1-2).  God tells us to be cheerful givers (2 Cor 9:7), but He never specifically says how much christians should give.  That is an issue of wisdom and is left for each individual heart to work out for itself (Php 2:12).

Who should tithe and why?

Sincerely,
Cash Counter

Dear Cash Counter,

Jews should tithe; christians should cheerfully give as they have prospered.  ‘Tithe’ means ‘one-tenth’ and was a command in the Old Testament (Deu 14:22).  The Old Testament law was a law given exclusively to the nation of Israel (Deu 5:1-3) and not all of mankind.

In the New Testament, we have a law for the whole world (Mk 16:15).  In the New Testament, christians are told to give as they have prospered every Sunday (1 Cor 16:1-2).  We are told to be cheerful givers (2 Cor 9:7).  The specific rule of giving one-tenth of our income no longer applies; instead, we are told to examine our hearts and give thankfully.

According to 1 Corinthians 5:9, we are not to associate ourselves with sinful people; how are we supposed to try and help them if we shouldn’t be hanging around them?

Sincerely,
Love From A Distance

Dear Love From A Distance,

In order to understand 1 Cor 5:9, we have to read the rest of the chapter.  Chapter five of first Corinthians is dealing with a christian who had decided to return to a wicked lifestyle (1 Cor 5:1).  Instead of rebuking this sinning brother, the Corinthian church was accepting his immoral lifestyle (1 Cor 5:2).  Paul was rebuking the congregation for not disciplining this wayward christian.  The church has the responsibility to discipline willfully sinning brethren – we do this by not associating with them until they repent (1 Cor 5:11).  This responsibility is only in regards to those who are within the church – not those outside of it (1 Cor 5:12-13).  God wants us to spend time with the lost, so we might win them to Christ (Mk 2:16-17).  We are to live in the world (1 Cor 5:10) as shining lights (Matt 5:14) to those who don’t know Christ.

It’s me again.  If you are not paying tithes, does the pastor have the right to stop you from serving on organizations?  If a deacon disagrees with his program, should the deacon be put off the deacon board?

Sincerely,
Under A Thumb

Dear Under A Thumb,

We’ll answer your question by asking a question: why is there only one pastor in this church?  The Lord never designed the church to be led by one man.  In every New Testament congregation, the church is led by a plurality of elders (also known as pastors).  Pastors lead the church together.  Paul wrote to the elders in Philippi (Php 1:1).  He met with the elders in Ephesus (Acts 20:17).  Every congregation had elders to lead them (Acts 14:23).  There is no example of a single elder/pastor leading the church.  Multiple pastors shepherding the church avoids all the power being placed in the hands of one man.  One man with too much authority can be corrupted… as your church is seeing.  This man is totally corrupted, power hungry, and greedy.  As you have mentioned in your previous questions, he has an unhealthy addiction to money.  This church has a problem with its leadership structure.  If you would like to start attending a congregation that won’t bleed you for every dollar you have AND is Scripturally sound AND will help you get to heaven instead of spreading false teaching, we would be happy to help you locate one in your area.  Our e-mail is askyourpreacher@mvchurchofchrist.org.

Our pastor told us that when the offering is taken up, you do not ask God to bless those who did not have anything to give when the person is praying over the offering.

Sincerely,
Blessingless

Dear Blessingless,

That is utter rubbish.  God tells us to pray for the sick (Jas 5:14), the poor (Ps 86:1), our enemies (Matt 5:44), etc.  God tells us to pray for all mankind (1 Tim 2:1).  Any religious leader that is telling people that those who don’t put money into the collection don’t deserve to be prayed for is attempting to shame people into giving money.  It is a horrible and reprehensible practice used by men who are greedy and covetous (1 Tim 6:10).  Don’t walk – RUN from any church that uses this sort of money-grubbing practice.

If you do not have a present to give to the pastor, are you cursed?

Sincerely,
Hexed?

Dear Hexed,

Absolutely not.  Any church that places higher value upon members who contribute more money are in direct violation of Scriptures.  James taught that we should not show partiality between the rich and the poor (Jas 2:1-4).  It is wrong to treat poor christians like lower class citizens because the poor saints are often the very same people who are the richest in faith (Jas 2:5).  A church that is constantly soliciting money from people to the point of shaming them is of the devil.  Christ condemned the Pharisees for “devouring widows’ houses” (Mk 12:40) and commanding people to neglect their families by giving to religion before providing for their own (Mk 7:9-13).  You are not cursed if you are unable to give a present to the pastor… he is cursed if that is the teaching he is giving you.

Is it right for pastors to ask people for money for prophecies?

Sincerely,
Read My Palm

Dear Read My Palm,

Absolutely not!  Especially since God specifically says that we have the perfect and complete Bible, so there are no more prophecies (1 Cor 13:8-10, Jas 1:25).  Televangelists that promise healing miracles, local preachers that profess to have visions, and any others of their ilk are charlatans and liars.  They are no different than Simon the magician who tried to buy the gift of God for money… they are diseased in heart and enslaved to iniquity (Acts 8:19-23).  The word of God is in the Bible and free and available to everyone… anyone that tries to sell it to you is a false teacher.  Accept nothing but the Bible; don’t let anyone add to it, and don’t let anyone take away from it (Rev 22:18-19).  We have everything we need to know about life and godliness within the pages of the Scriptures (2 Pet 1:3).  There is no need for additional prophecy because God has handed down to us once and for all His Word to the saints (Jude 1:3).  Don’t give a penny, or even a greeting, to those who would use the Gospel for greedy gain (2 Jn 1:10-11).

What I am talking about is a certain day that the church sets aside for the pastor.  Right now, we are asked to give one thousand dollars to the pastor for pastor appreciation, but in this particular church, you pay for everything that is done, and the leadership caters to groups who give that money, and others are left out.  I wanted to be a greeter in this church and was told that I couldn’t because I didn’t sign some type of contract and pledge to give every time they ask for something.  A thousand dollars is a lot of money for some, and I really don’t think that they are understanding what Christ’s church is all about.  If you have heard this before, then believe it because it is happening, and these people think they are right, and it saddens me to see people doing it, and nobody is doing anything about it.

Sincerely,
Hand On My Wallet

Dear Hand On My Wallet,

Wow!  Apparently there is big money in pastor “appreciation” day.  If only we all could get a thousand dollar gift from our friends and neighbors.  This sort of money-grubbing worldliness makes us sick… and it sickened Jesus too (Mk 12:38-40).  Heb 13:5 teaches that everyone, and that includes church leaders, should be free from the love of money.  All sorts of evil comes from the love of money (1 Tim 6:10), and a pastor is specifically forbidden to be a man who is a lover of money (1 Tim 3:2-3).

The church you are describing is a false church, and the best thing you can do is leave.  They are using the Gospel as a means of financial gain and power – a deplorable misuse of Christ’s message.  These wolves in sheep’s clothing have perverted the Bible for their own wicked gain (Acts 20:29-30).  We recommend you read “Finding The Church” and start looking for a faithful congregation.  If you would like our help, feel free to e-mail us at askyourpreacher@mvchurchofchrist.org, and we will happily point you toward a faithful congregation in your area.

What guidance does the Bible have for how a church should use its money?  It seems from places such as 1 Corinthians 16 that when the early church collected funds, they were primarily used for benevolence.  Today it seems like the majority of a church’s income tends to go towards paying utilities and mortgages, and churches frequently have a large savings account.  What guidance does the Bible have as far as how much a church should keep in savings, how much debt it should take on, etc.?  If a church buys land, should it consider the investment value of the land as well?  What about earning interest on money in savings?

Sincerely,
Not For Profit

Dear Not For Profit,

The church is allowed to spend money on anything God commands the church to do.  If God commands the church to assemble (Heb 10:24-25), the church can spend money to assemble in the most practical way it sees fit.  If God commands the church to teach (1 Cor 4:17), the church is authorized to spend money to facilitate teaching the saved and the lost.  If the church is told to do something, they are authorized to spend money to make it happen – that freedom to spend money is inherent within the command.  It would be the same as if someone asked you to take their car to the car wash… it would be understood that it was okay for you to spend the gas to drive the car to the car wash, and it was also okay for you to spend the money to pay for the car to be washed.  Whatever is necessary to fulfill a command is automatically allowed.

In the particular case of the Corinthian church, they needed to collect funds for benevolence… and that was a very common reason for collection in that time of christian persecution.  In today’s culture and world the church finds itself in, we need to pay for things that the first century saints would never have dreamed of (“Electrical bills?  What’s that?!”).  However, just because the expenses we face are not the same, that doesn’t mean that the same guidelines don’t apply.  1 Cor 16:1-2 outlines the mode with which to collect funds to pay for whatever expenses a church may incur.  It also explains that it is appropriate for the church to have a store of money for future expenses (1 Cor 16:2-3).

As far as how big that savings account can be, what level of debt the church can incur, savings accounts with interest, etc. – the church has the same guidelines for financial management as individuals… use wisdom (Pr 8:12-18).  Too little of savings is foolish; too much is greedy.  Interest is condoned by God (Matt 25:27) and shows wisdom, but “playing the market” with the church’s treasury is very different from gaining simple interest.  In other words, the church needs to show wisdom and discretion in its financial management.

I have been reading through your archives and saw many people who asked about Christians keeping the Sabbath day.  Since Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament when He died on the cross, why do Christians still go to church on Sunday?  Many act like it is required, that you MUST go to church, but is that true?

Sincerely,
Do I Have To Go?

Dear Do I Have To Go,

Christians do not need to keep the Sabbath day… but the Sabbath isn’t Sunday.  The Sabbath was an Old Testament day of worship – it was on Saturday (Ex 16:26).  Christians are commanded by God to meet on Sunday.  We know this because there are two things that the church has to do every Sunday.

1. The church is supposed to gather together and take the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7, 1 Cor 11:18-20).
2. The church is supposed to take up a collection every Sunday to further God’s work (1 Cor 16:1-2).

While those two acts are commanded for Sunday and Sunday only, there are plenty of other things the church needs to gather to do.  The church needs to be praying together, studying God’s Word together (Acts 2:42), and singing praise to God on a regular basis (Col 3:16).  Heb 10:24-25 says that it is a sin for a christian to forsake the assembly.  Every christian needs to make it a clear and consistent priority to set Sunday aside to serve and worship God.  Sunday worship is a part of a christian’s duty.

I belong to a Baptist church.  The pastor calls himself a “shepherd”… but don’t care about his sheep.  He tells every one to hug everyone’s neck but don’t do that himself.  He do not shake anyone’s hand.  Don’t even know the names of people and don’t care.  It is not a big church, only three hundred members.  It is a fully-paid church with a capacity of 750.  Now he wants to buy a larger facility and wants every one to pay extra for it and told the congregation that those who do not wish to support him should leave the church!  He fired the associate pastor because he did not agree to his idea.  His wife is the music minister, and he gets a fabulous salary between the two.  He also sells his personal CD’s and his wife’s music CD’s to make extra money.  We were paying for his luxurious house with swimming pool.  In this economy, people are struggling to make both ends meet.  There are people in our church who lost their homes to foreclosures and got their power cut off, but all he cares is for the people to contribute more money for his idea.  What can we do to get rid of this money and power-hungry preacher and his family, so that we will have a quiet place to worship?  We have contributed to this church heavily in the past but don’t think we should do it any more.

Sincerely,
Fed Up

Dear Fed Up,

Our advice is to take this money-grubbing false teacher’s advice – LEAVE.  All you can ever do is work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Php 2:12).  We get buckets of questions from people asking for help because every church they find seems to only care about money… it’s horrid what people have done in the name of religion.  Unfortunately, there is nothing new under the sun (Eccl 1:9).  Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for the same greedy behavior (Lk 20:46-47).

In the end, you want to be a christian – not a Baptist, Methodist, Calvinist, Lutheran, etc.  Baptist churches only make Baptists, Methodist churches only make Methodists, and so on.  You need to find a church that belongs to Christ, not men.  This preacher has warped and twisted the Scriptures to make religion all about him… and not about God.  Such men have a very strict judgment awaiting them (Jas 3:1).  We would be happy to help you find a faithful church that will teach the Bible and leave all the manmade garbage out.  E-mail us at askyourpreacher@mvchurchofchrist.org if you would like help finding a peaceful, faithful, and godly church to attend in your area.

How often do we give offerings and tithes in the church?  Is it how you are moved by the message or what?  Please explain according to Scripture.

Sincerely,
In The Money

Dear In The Money,

‘Tithe’ is an Old Testament term which means ‘one tenth’.  In the New Testament, we are never told to tithe.  One tenth is certainly a good rule of thumb, but not a New Testament command.

We should never give based off of how we feel in the moment.  Our contribution to the Lord’s work should be planned ahead, not made spur of the moment.  God tells christians to “lay by in store” (1 Cor 16:2) and give as we have “purposed in our hearts” (2 Cor 9:7).  On the first day of the week, Sunday, the local church is supposed to take up a collection from its membership.  This is supposed to be done every Sunday (1 Cor 16:1-2).  The members should give in a purposeful, cheerful, and deliberate manner.  You should already know how much you are going to give before you come to the assembly.  Purpose in your heart ahead of time, and give with good cheer and conviction.

Why do the majority of Christian/Non-denominational/Protestant (Evangelicals especially) base a majority of what they talk about on Malachi 3:10?  Why is there such an importance placed on giving money to a church, TV program, or some charity?  When all we see are rich pastors walking around in $500 suits and a big gold and diamond encrusted ring? Okay, so I understand that God gave us what we have, and we are to share the fruits of our labor, but some pastors teach as if this is the ONLY thing in the Bible.  What about compassion for the penniless?  Oh, right, then they’ll bring up the little old lady that gave her last two pennies and how magnanimous of her that she gave all she had, and we are only being asked to give 10%; how positively horrible of me.  Doesn’t God know that I am broke?  Doesn’t He understand that if I don’t pay my rent, I end up homeless?  Doesn’t He understand that you can’t squeeze blood from a turnip?  Okay, so a miracle will happen?  But how am I supposed to believe that God *wants* me to be financially well-to-do?  I should think He has more pressing issues (like forgiving a sinful world) than whether or not I am going to have a financial breakthrough.  Am I wrong, because it seems to me Jesus never asked for money, neither did any of the twelve (with the exception of Judas and the thirty pieces of silver); in fact, weren’t they poor and only had the clothes on their back and what they could carry with them?  Didn’t Jesus tell them that this is how they were to live?

Sincerely,
Money Mad

Dear Money Mad,

You are absolutely 100% right.  A large portion of evangelists today teach what is called “the prosperity gospel”.  Mal 3:10 is one of their favorite verses because it is so easy to twist out of context.  Yes, God blesses us when we obey Him.  Yes, God blesses us when we contribute financially to His work… but those blessings aren’t always financial.

James tells us that the poor are often the most spiritually rich because they have learned to trust in God for their daily needs (Jas 2:5).  The church at Laodicea was financially wealthy, and that was their downfall because it led to pride and a sense of self-sufficiency (Rev 3:17).  The riches that really count are spiritual ones (Matt 6:19-21).  These preachers that tell people to “give so that they can get” are snake oil salesman.  They are of the same character as the Pharisees who “devoured widows’ houses” (Mk 12:40).

If this is the type of church that you are attending… there is a better and more godly way.  Yes, we should give of our finances… but that isn’t the totality of the Bible message – it isn’t even the majority of it.  We would be happy to help you get in touch with a faithful congregation in your area that teaches the truth.  After all, the church is supposed to be the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim 3:15) – not the pillar and ground of the financial world.  E-mail us (askyourpreacher@mvchurchofchrist.org) with what part of the world you live in, and we will do our best to get you in contact with a congregation in your area.

I heard that some churches REQUIRE you to give ten percent of your income in order to be a member of the church; do you think that’s right?  This also means that you have to let people know how much you make every year (the exact amount) just to be a member!!!!!  I think that’s an invasion of people’s private life.  However much someone makes is none of anyone’s business.

Honestly, I don’t have a problem giving my tithe; I do it faithfully, but for those who don’t want to give faithfully, I think that should be between them and God.  God will decide what to do with them, not us.

What do you think about this issue?  Is it right to make it a REQUIREMENT for people to give a tithe in order to be a member of a church?

Sincerely,
Not Paying For A Pew

Dear Not Paying For A Pew,

No, it isn’t right to require people to give ten percent of their income… in fact, tithing isn’t even a commandment in the New Testament.  In the New Testament (which is the law that christians follow), we are told to “give cheerfully” and “give as we have purposed” (2 Cor 9:7).  Ten percent is a good rule of thumb because we see that being the standard in the Old Testament, but it isn’t a requirement.  If any congregation teaches that you have to give ten percent to be a member of the church – it is a false church.  That kind of teaching goes beyond the Scriptures and should be condemned for its arrogance (1 Cor 4:6).  On the first day of the week (Sunday), the church should take up a collection from the christians, and each member must decide for themselves to give as they have been prospered (1 Cor 16:1-2).  The religious world is full of greedy and covetous religious leaders, and they are wrong (Tit 1:10-11).  If you would like help finding a congregation that is faithful to God’s Word in your area, please e-mail us at askyourpreacher@mvchurchofchrist.org, and we will do our best to help you find a church in your area.

Having preached for the first time as a commissioned minister, I received a check for the service. I believe I should endorse the check and give it back as a ‘first fruits’ offering. As I wish to continue on this path, do you concur?

Sincerely,
It’s Harvest Time

Dear It’s Harvest Time,

You don’t have to give the money back as a contribution, but it certainly would be a blessing to do so. Whenever we give to God, we are the ones that are blessed the most (Php 4:17), not necessarily physically – but spiritually. When we give to God, we store up treasures for ourselves in heaven (Matt 6:20). Give cheerfully (2 Cor 9:7) and deliberately (1 Cor 16:2).

On a separate note, what is a “commissioned minister”? Could you show us a verse in the Bible that talks about that? Who does the commissioning? We are concerned because that terminology smacks of denominationalism and man-made religious ideas. As you are embarking on a lifetime of preaching, we would hate for you to get wrapped up in the religious confusion that is so often found in today’s churches. You will be asserting yourself as a teacher… and a teacher incurs a stricter judgment (Jas 3:1). The Bible only speaks of ministers. “Commissioned ministers”, “lay ministers”, “youth ministers”, “outreach ministers”, etc. are all man-made titles that have been added as people overcomplicate and warp the Bible. We recommend you read “Preacher Interrogation” and interrogate yourself to see whether or not you are planting a preaching career on solid Biblical ground.

Is the ministry and gift referenced in 2 Corinthians 9 referring to money?  If so, was this money collected by the churches in Achaia to be given to needy non-Christians (9:13)?  I’ve heard some conflicting views on this, and I’m looking for a good, Biblical answer.

Sincerely,
Gift Giver

Dear Gift Giver,

2 Cor 9 is dealing with a gift of money.  Paul is telling the Corinthians how happy he is with their readiness and zeal to give (2 Cor 9:2).  The whole chapter is dealing with a collection to care for the needs of impoverished christians in Jerusalem.  Paul told the Corinthian church to begin taking up a collection for that need in 1 Cor 16:1-3 and that he would pick up the money and deliver it to Jerusalem when he passed through Macedonia (1 Cor 16:5-6).

In the Second Corinthian letter, Paul is telling them once again to make that gift ready because he is coming soon, and he wanted them to be prepared (2 Cor 9:3-5).  That money was collected by the church in Corinth to care for the needs of christians (2 Cor 9:1).  When Paul talks about their liberality “unto them and unto all” (2 Cor 9:13) – the ‘them’ in that context is the brethren in Judea, and the ‘all’ is all the brethren that the Corinthian church had been kind to and cared for.

The Bible only authorizes a local church to give money to care for needy christians.  The church has more restrictive financial guidelines than individuals do.  As individuals, we can – and should – care for both christians and non-christians (Gal 6:10).

Does the Bible say anything about a ministry tithing to a mission field out of their general fund?

Sincerely,
Fund Flummoxed

Dear Fund Flummoxed,

In the religious world, the word ‘ministry’ means a lot of different things, but we are going to assume that what you mean by that term is ‘congregation’.  A congregation has the authority to collect funds from its membership every Sunday (1 Cor 16:1-2).  That money can be used for anything that the church is supposed to be doing.

We see examples in the Bible of local congregations supporting individual preachers (like Philippi did with Paul – Php 4:15-18), sending money to needy brethren (Acts 11:29), and caring for christian widows (1 Tim 5:16).  All of these are specific examples that go beyond the normal day-to-day expenditures that congregations have to keep preaching the Gospel in their own local community, teaching the christians there, continuing the worship services, and caring for their own needy christians.

Using these examples as guides, it would be appropriate for a congregation to send money to an individual preacher who is working abroad.

My question regards the practice of tithing.  When my husband and I both worked, we gladly tithed 10% and more.  Now that we are down to one income, tithing 10% is not possible.  I invite anyone to look at my budget — you will not find a clothing allowance, an entertainment allowance (although I do get the kids a happy meal when I go grocery shopping, mostly so I can unload and put away groceries in peace!).  You will not find a growing savings account or contributions to an investment plan.   The fact is, we’ve sacrificed a lot, so that I could stay at home with the kids while they are preschoolers.  Once they’re both in school, we’ll go back to being a two-income family.

My question, which I’m sure you’ve heard a million times, is should I tithe only what we are able?  I believe that God wants me to pay my bills.  I also don’t think my church is going to pay my bills when I fall behind on them because I am tithing instead.

I’m looking for someone to give me an honest answer.  For what it’s worth, as a single parent (before marriage), I did tithe 10% instead of paying my bills.  I fell behind on my bills.  I married my current husband with a mountain of debt which we are slowly emerging from.

Sincerely,
Ten Is Too Many

Dear Ten Is Too Many,

Tithing is an Old Testament commandment (Num 18:24), not a New Testament one.  Jews tithe; christians “lay by in store as we have prospered” (1 Cor 16:1-3).  God doesn’t give a specific percentage that christians should give back.  He commands that we prepare beforehand what we give (that’s the “lay by in store” part – 1 Cor 16:2).  He also commands that we be “cheerful givers” and that we give as we have “purposed in our hearts” (2 Cor 9:7).  Though tithing, which means ‘one tenth’, is a good rule of thumb for giving… it isn’t a command.

Any church that tells you that you have to give 10% is warping the Scriptures to increase your contribution.  You and your husband need to prepare beforehand what it is that you can cheerfully give.  Giving should be a sacrifice – but a voluntary one based off of thoughtful contemplation.

Is there any particular order that church services are to occur in?  In some congregations I’ve been to, the Lord’s Supper is at the end of the sermon, but most other congregations I have attended have it prior to the sermon.  Is there an example of how church services should be conducted down to this detail in the New Testament, or is this up to the leaders of the congregation?

Sincerely,
Out Of Order

Dear Out Of Order,

There is no particular order that services must occur in – only particular elements that need to be included.  The Bible gives us examples and commands for five different elements to the public worship.

1. Teaching/Preaching (1 Cor 4:17)
2. Singing (Eph 5:19)
3. Prayer (Acts 12:5)
4. Taking A Collection – Sunday only (1 Cor 16:1-2)
5. Lord’s Supper – Sunday only (Acts 20:7)

Of these five elements, two of them are specifically allowed only on Sundays.  The others can be done any time the brethren get together.  God is specific that these are the things He wants us to do, however, He never stipulates what order He wants them done in.  Every Bible command has specific elements and general elements to them.  For example, Noah was told to build the ark out of a specific type of wood – gopher wood (Gen 6:14) – but he was free to use whatever tools or procedures he liked to collect that wood because God wasn’t specific about that detail.  In the case of worship, God is specific on what elements He wants, but He leaves what time of day to meet, arrangement of pews, order of services, which songs to lead, and other details up to us.

I attend a church that doesn’t teach on the Day of Atonement.  I have in the past given my Atonement offering just the same.  Should I give my Atonement offering to a ministry that would pray over my offering in that regard, or is it okay to continue to give it to my church with the notation “Atonement Offering”?  Does it make a difference?

Sincerely,
Check Please

Dear Check Please,

The Day of Atonement was an Old Testament Jewish festival in which Jews gave offerings by fire – i.e. animal sacrifices – to God (Lev 23:27).  Christians do not celebrate the Jewish feasts.  In fact, Paul specifically told christians not to let anyone bind them to the Old Testament feasts which were just a shadow of the New Law found in Christ (Col 2:17).  The Old Law was a tutor to lead people to Christ, but now that Christ is here – we are no longer under that tutor (Gal 3:24-25).

Christians don’t make “atonement offerings”; we are commanded to take up a collection every Sunday (1 Cor 16:1-2).  We recommend reading “What Must I Do To Be Saved” and “Finding The Church” for more details on what New Testament Christianity is and how to find a faithful congregation to be a part of.

My friend said it would be wrong to use our church’s projector for my block party’s movie night.  I can’t afford to rent one, and I DO pay into the collection basket, so don’t I own a share of this projector anyway?  It isn’t stealing because it’s kind of mine.  I know it is wrong to offend my friend’s conscience, so I will make sure he doesn’t know.  I’ll take good care of it.  If he does happen to find out, what verse can I point to, so he sees reason?

Sincerely,
Host With The Most

Dear Host With The Most,

It would be hard to give you a verse to show your friend he is wrong because he is right.  The moment you place your money in the collection plate, it is no longer your money.  You are setting the money aside and taking up a collection to further God’s work (1 Cor 16:2).  That money is a gift that you are giving back to God, not an investment in future entertainment plans.  By your logic, the preacher’s car, home, clothes, etc. are also “kind of” yours.  Maybe you can drive his car (which is paid for from the collection plate) on Tuesdays at three o’clock, and others can use it at various times convenient to them… kind of like a timeshare.

The point is that our offerings to God should be gifts, and we should be cheerful givers (2 Cor 9:7).  Once you give the gift, it belongs to the church, and the church has very specific rules that govern its use of money (see “Blow Out The Candles” for further details on the specific responsibilities of the church).  So go ahead and avoid offending your friend’s conscience by leaving the projector where it is.

I was going to give an offering to an online ministry.  I have said to myself that if this isn’t what God wanted me to do, He would let me know. Well, I have checked on my balance from my account, and I just found out that my offering didn’t go through.  Is this a sign that God doesn’t want me to give even though I gave it two weeks ago?  I don’t have much money left, and I don’t know what to do.

Sincerely,
Give Or Live

Dear Give Or Live,

We here at AYP think in general people should give more, not less – but in this circumstance, we lend toward saying, “Don’t give.”  We cannot be adamant either way, but here are the Scriptures that come to mind in your circumstance:

1. You prayed about it, and it hasn’t worked out.  God says that if we pray for wisdom, He will provide (Jas 1:5).  Ultimately, the only exact knowledge we will ever get is from God’s Word (Rom 10:17, Rom 1:16).  However, it would be foolish to say that God doesn’t answer prayers and affect our lives providentially.  The fact that your gift didn’t go through isn’t definitive proof, but it would give us pause as well.
2. Online ministries are rarely Biblical.  I’m sure we will receive a flood of e-mails telling us how wrong we are on this point, but realistically, televangelists, online ministries, and the sort are made up of people who want to itch ears and tell people what they want to hear, so that they can get to their purse strings (2 Tim 4:3-4).  Beware of false teachers who come to you in sheep’s clothing (Matt 7:15).  There are many other, more specific ways that you can help others without getting mixed up with charlatans.
3. You mentioned that you don’t have much money left.  God expects us to give liberally, but He also doesn’t hold us accountable to give something we don’t have to give (2 Cor 8:12).  If you have to decide whether you will have enough money to eat or whether you will give – it is probably time to take care of the needs at home first.  On the other hand, be careful that you don’t define ‘wants’ as ‘needs’ and only give what you have left over.  All giving should be a sacrifice (Lk 21:1-4).

Ultimately, you must decide for yourself what you ought to do in this circumstance… but those are some Scriptures to consider as you make your decision.

In answer to a previous question, you said: “The church’s work should be simple. The church of the first century wasn’t involved in every community and political arena. Their work was focused on three things – caring for needy christians (Acts 4:34), preaching to the lost, and teaching the saved (Acts 15:35).”

My church wants to sponsor a speaker to speak (it’s a lecture, not preaching) inside of our church building.  We would charge an entrance fee (or ask for a certain donation) and would pay the speaker for his time, accommodations, and travel expenses.  My conscious is deeply violated by this idea, and I believe it is unethical to have this forum in the church building itself – I don’t mind if it is in a convention center or hotel or other location.  I will not be attending this lecture, but I feel like if my church does host this speaker, I can’t go there and support them without violating my conscience.  What are your thoughts on this?

Sincerely,
Conscientious Objector

Dear Conscientious Objector,

A church doing this doesn’t just violate your conscience; it violates God’s laws. The church of the first century wasn’t interested in the things of this world, nor was it involved in furthering secular education and studies. Jesus even said that His kingdom, the church, was not of this world (Jhn 18:36). The church and any teaching it does should impart spiritual guidance to people (Rom 15:27). This trend of congregations getting wrapped up in earthly knowledge, politics, etc. is indeed unethical.

Furthermore, the congregation is using this speaker as a fundraiser! The Bible only provides one way for the church to garner funds – with a collection made every Sunday from amongst its own members (1 Cor 16:1). Bake sales, entrance fees, garage sales, etc. are not Biblical ways for the church to acquire money. Far too often, churches have gotten so wrapped up in how to bring in more money that they are perpetually holding their hand out, begging, demanding, and selling themselves to increase their finances. “Mega-churches” and televangelists are just an extreme form of the epidemic that is sweeping through religion. Instead of giving the gospel away for free, they are selling it to the highest bidder! Simon was swiftly rebuked for this attitude (Acts 8:20), and any church today that tries to “drum up” funds rather than trust the faithful contribution of its members each Lord’s day should be rebuked just as harshly.

This congregation has a serious problem and has made an obvious decision to disregard some of the most basic teachings on the church; you are right to be upset with them. AskYourPreacher recommends that you ask your preacher where he gets the authority for the choices they are making and then swiftly leave unless they change their ways (see “Finding A Church” for help where to go if things don’t improve).

My boyfriend says that pastors are wrong when they say, “Give 10% in
tithes.”  He says that the Bible says 1/10^th. His argument: the dictionary defines ‘one tenth’ as ‘one part of ten’, and ‘10%’ is defined as ‘10 parts per hundred’, thus meaning that 1/10^th is actually smaller. So in all actuality, we should only give:

1cent, $1, $10, $100, etc. (not) 2 cents, $1.54, $12.25, $149, etc.

What he does is if he makes $487.00, he’ll put $40.00 into his tithe envelope and another $10.00 into the offering plate going over the 10% anyway. When I ask why argue when you put in over the percentage anyways, he says it’s not about the money; the preachers may or may not know the difference, but he does, and it’s about facts. Is this true?

Sincerely,
By The Numbers

Dear By The Numbers,

Your boyfriend is missing the point and using a modern definition for an ancient word. If I understand your boyfriend’s argument (and I’m not sure I do) it revolves around rounding numbers and an American dictionary. His point is that there is a difference between 1 part per ten and ten parts per hundred. This may be true in certain chemistry and technical applications, but it is not true in the normal usage of 1/10^th. Tithe does mean 1/10^th. It is a fraction. Ask any math teacher how to find 1/10^th of something, and they will tell you to divide by ten. The Old Testament doesn’t use an American dictionary for its word definitions, so the parts per hundred and parts per ten argument doesn’t hold water.

Having said all of that, tithing is an Old Testament Jewish practice, not a command for New Testament christians. Your boyfriend and your pastor are arguing about something that doesn’t even apply to christians! See this post for more details about tithing, and see this post for details about finding a faithful church. Though 10% is a good ‘rule of thumb’ for how much to give, the Biblical commandment for christians is to ‘give cheerfully’ and as you have ‘purposed in your heart’ (2 Cor 9:7)… which it sounds like your boyfriend has been doing. If the leadership of your church doesn’t understand the difference between Old Testament and New Testament teachings – they probably aren’t paying very close attention to their Bibles.

I tithe, but at the end of the service, should the leader go on and on, scripture after scripture, telling you that you are cursed with a curse if you don’t give tithes and offerings? Badgering people about this I feel is wrong, and I have an uneasy feeling about this the more I hear it. We are supposed to give out of love and with a cheerful heart. Is it wrong to hold this offering over the congregation’s head and to use Scripture to justify it? What happens if I don’t have the money to tithe? Am I going to be not as blessed as the rest of the congregation? I do believe God wants us to be blessed and prosper, but what about the people who are struggling and not prospering? Does that mean their faith is weak? I’m really troubled by doctrines and people’s perceptions of how we are supposed to be overflowing with prosperity and people are supposed to see that we are more prosperous than the worldly/secular people. Does God really want our bank accounts full when all of it is going to perish anyways? I would like to know if prosperity is truly what Jesus taught and what He emphasized.

Sincerely,
Too Much Money Talk

Dear Too Much Money Talk,

Christians don’t tithe; Jews do. Christians also don’t have any guarantees of financial prosperity. Faithfulness doesn’t guarantee financial success. If that was the case, why did Paul end up in prison (Acts 16:37)? Why did Jesus say that He didn’t have anywhere to lay His head (Matt 8:20)? The most faithful people often suffer the most for the gospel. In fact, Christians are guaranteed to suffer for Christ’s church (Acts 14:22). If anything, prosperity is often a hindrance to faithfulness (Lk 18:24).

Tithing is an Old Testament command to the Jews (Deu 14:22). ‘Tithe’ means ‘to give 10%’. Christians are never told to tithe in the New Testament. We are told to be ‘cheerful givers’ (2 Cor 9:7). We are also told to ‘lay by in store’ and plan ahead before we give (1 Cor 16:1-2). We are never told a specific amount that we are supposed to give. Having said that, I think 10% is a good starting point for giving. Don’t let anyone badger you with the “You Have to Tithe” argument, though. Unless you are a Jew, you aren’t bound by the 10% rule.

It sounds like the church you attend teaches something called “The Prosperity Gospel”. The “Prosperity Gospel” is a false teaching that says if you serve God, you will have financial success; if you don’t, you will have financial failure. This is completely false. Job was the most faithful man on the planet in his day (Job 1:8), and he suffered more financial loss than anyone before or since. If the congregation you attend is teaching that… run. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt 7:15) who are teaching that Jesus cares more about money than He does about souls.

If a pastor receives a salary from the church, should the congregation pay all of the bills that the pastor incurs (for instance: his rent or other bills)?

Sincerely,
Paying the Bills

Dear Paying the Bills,

Both pastors and preachers (yes, there is a difference) can be financially supported by a congregation. Paul makes it very clear that a ‘worker is worthy of his hire’ (1 Tim 5:17-19). Unfortunately, we live in a world where religious leaders have thoroughly abused this blessing. Televangelists and ‘mega-church’ pastors are well known for their greed and multi-million dollar homes. This has left a sour taste in the mouth of many Americans when it comes to supporting preachers and pastors.

A congregation does not have to pay all of the bills of a preacher. However, it is a blessing to him and to them if they can. If he is working hard doing preaching and teaching, then being financially supported can free him up to continue to work even harder.

If a pastor or preacher has to work a secular job to pay the bills, it will take away from his time to spread the gospel and teach christians; it is more important that he provide for his family in such cases (1 Tim 5:8). Ultimately, it is his responsibility, not the congregation’s, to provide for his family. Even Paul worked as a tentmaker to pay the bills at times (Acts 18:3). A godly man will not overburden a congregation or squander the money God has blessed him with .

A congregation must take up their weekly collection (1 Cor 16:1-2), assess all of their various costs, and make a prayerful decision as to how much they can afford to support a preacher. Some congregations will be able to fully support a preacher; others may not be able to support one at all. In either case, it is acceptable according to what a congregation has (2 Cor 8:11-12).

How do contributions work if I miss a Sunday?  Say I am visiting another congregation, so I am unable to contribute at my home congregation.  Should I contribute at the congregation I am visiting or should I just double up on my contributions the next week at my home congregation?

Sincerely,
Collecting My Thoughts

Dear Collecting My Thoughts,

It is left entirely to your discretion. The command to take up a collection on the first day of the week is a congregational command (1 Cor 16:1). The congregation has the responsibility to take up the collection each week from its members. That is their responsibility.

Your responsibility as an individual is to give cheerfully, purposefully, and voluntarily (2 Cor 9:7). The intent of 1 Cor 16:2 seems to be that the individual would be preparing to give their contribution to their own ‘home’ congregation, but I would hesitate to be too dogmatic on that point. It isn’t a sin for an individual to ‘double-up’ a contribution the next week after visiting elsewhere, nor is it a sin to contribute to the work of another faithful congregation. In matters of freedom, pray for wisdom (Jas 1:5) and do what seems best. There is no wrong answer.