How Far Is Too Far When the Church Asks for Money?

Duty to Know

The Bible prescribes the importance of giving back a portion of what we have been blessed to give. Most subscribe to the Old Testament definition of a tithe being 10% of a person’s income. Similarly, anything above such tithe is deemed to be a goodwill offering. One could rightfully discern that members of the New Testament church have a responsibility to give 100% since all has been bestowed upon us through Jesus Christ by and through His grace. 

Paul instructed the church at Corinth, in 2 Corinthians 9:7, that giving should be done cheerfully and “not grudgingly, or of necessity.” It’s hard to shame or beg someone into giving graciously and joyfully. Thus, the proper means is through education. Gregg Allison, in his book Sojourners and Strangers, classifies our obligation to give to the local church as a “second act of grace.” Scripture teaches that giving is in direct response to God’s initial offering of grace in the believer’s life as we who “being enriched in everything to all bountifulness which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.” Allison explained that spiritually obedient giving is doxological as it “glorifies God, adorns the gospel, reflects the self-giving of its Lord, helps people in need, proves the genuineness of its love, and achieves fairness.” Paul was in agreement, as he wrote in verse 13, that by giving, “they glorify God for your profession subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men.”

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Church Has Always Given

The early church was a generous body of believers in God’s grace. Luke, in Acts 2:44-45 and Acts 4:32-33, described the church as united in her giving and “distributed to each as any had need.” This generosity, or “second act of grace,” was in direct response to the graceful bestowment of repentance, forgiveness, and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Appreciation makes one generous. 

Today’s church has much to appreciate but sometimes does not take kindly to the reminder of her expectations. The church, however, has a duty to educate its membership about each member’s responsibility of giving. Some are financially able to give more than others, but all members of the church are equal in our reception of repentance, forgiveness, and spiritual empowerment. Through our appreciative giving, we receive the seed and sow it both inside the walls of the church and outside in the community through the church’s missional endeavors.

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Blesses Communities

Offerings finance the ministries of the church but are also used to bestow Christian love to the outside community. Many of our sister churches are in need of financial assistance. In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul commended the church for financially assisting the Jerusalem church and giving to “the want of the saints.” A large number of the country’s churches financially flourished during the Covid era. Conversely, however, many rural churches lost pastors and congregants who have yet to return. The circularity of an inability to fill pews causes an inability to pay a pastor because of the lack of income. Thus, sister churches and denominational bodies will either have to finance these dying churches or watch as the plug is pulled from the respirator.   

We Need It

A few years back, a rumor circulated that one of the larger churches in our area required a W-2 of all church members in order to reconcile the member’s adherence to “biblical tithing.” The local church has expenses and depends upon donations and the giving of those who attend its services. Salaries, insurance, utilities, and missional endeavors comprise a great proportion of her expenses. The church annually budgets for these expenses as well as other line items based on the longitudinal history of income by way of these donations, tithes, and offerings. When more money is leaving than is coming in, decisions must be made by the church leadership – either item must be cut, or purses and billfolds must be opened.

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We Know You Have It

Preaching on tithing is a necessary but often uncomfortable topic. Speaking on another’s ability and duty to pay will never get the spiritual reception as Christ’s virgin birth or resurrection. Further, preaching a series on fornication is easier than one 30-minute sermon on tithing for both the pastor and the congregation. However, the message becomes vitally necessary when the parking lot is full of new cars and church members’ Facebook timeline gushes with beach vacation pictures, yet the church finances are in the red. As mentioned above, giving is a form of worship. Not only should we be teaching about worship, but we should always be active participants. Too many members worship and praise in our church through the active worship and praise of other members. Worship is a participation sport, and joyful giving serves as a part of our worship as well as giving thanks and rightful attribution to the One who has given us the ability and opportunity to attain that which we give. 

Most would agree that correlating W-2s and tithing records would be going too far, and never mentioning the obligation of giving is not far enough. I do not see many horses and carriages in the church parking lots or empty plates on the dinner tables of the church members. Further, preaching that Malachi 3:10 promises wealth and riches being poured out upon the congregant misapplies the prophetic message. Promised financial prosperity in return for obedience is not scriptural and is also apt to cause distrust in God when the person never realizes riches.

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Fixed Doesn’t Mean Unable

A substantial portion of our congregations are on fixed income, whether it be drawing from private retirement funds or Social Security benefits. “Fixed” does not necessarily mean destitute or unable but is often utilized as a providential hindrance from obedience. Further, our excesses, desires, and conveniences comprise much of our “fixed income.” Similarly, most of us are on “fixed” time schedules as well, yet we are still expected to attend God’s house for worship and other services. Instead of making excuses as to why we lack funds to give to the church, we should be giving to the church off the top and then making excuses as to why we cannot afford high-dollar coffee. Thus, when we properly consider our resources bestowments of God’s grace, we are more apt to “cut his check” before we satisfy the other obligations. I am not promoting having a legalistic mindset of sending the church 10% of one’s gross income. However, a dedication to tithing as a paramount monthly household budgetary outlay eliminates much of the confusion as to what is left for the church. 

Pastors and the church leadership may not know exactly who is tithing and who is riding the coattails of those who are, but the general dedication to tithing (or lack thereof) of the congregation is not difficult to ascertain. Most tithers write checks to the church. Thus, a name is attached to the amount given. Churches dedicate themselves to attendance numbers. Thus, if a small church of 100 received $5,000 in offerings this month, each person, on average, gave $50.00. The plot thickens, however, with the knowledge that Generous Joe gave $1,000 this month. Assuming children comprise at least 20 of those counted in attendance means that the 79 other givers for the month gave $50 each. This amount would translate into $600 for the year and equate to 10% of a mere $6,000.00. Even recipients of Supplemental Security Income receive over $800/month unless more income is received by the household. I pastor a church in one of the poorest counties in the country, and I would be hard-pressed to find a household that receives less than $10,000/year. Thus, one could reasonably conclude that each member is expected to contribute at least $1,000/year.

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We Can Do with Less

Fasting serves as a denial of self, but also a desire for what I withhold from myself to be given to someone in need. The gospel fosters this type of community by living out the gospel that we preach – inhaling inside the church, exhaling these truths to the world. Conversely, the church suffers when we splurge on ourselves and withhold from the church.

No Free Rides

The amount a person gives directly correlates with his/her desired participation within the church. In his groundbreaking writing The Rise of Christianity, Rodney Stark detailed that religions/cults with low levels of stigma and sacrifice are more prone to “free-rider problems.” When a person “invests” in an endeavor, he or she desires its success. Because a person’s positive worship experience increases in a full church and collective enthusiastic participation, “each member pays the costs of membership, each gain from higher levels of production of collective goods.” Thus, Stark surmised, “Membership in an expensive religion is, for many people, a ‘good bargain.’” As a direct result, the community benefits. Stark identified a major reason for the growth of the early church in the Roman Empire was the generosity of Christians during times of natural disaster and epidemics. While pagans fearfully isolated, Christians gave time and resources to rebuild and care for those affected. 

The church pastor acknowledges the great need for obedient tithing but cringes at the thought of being the guy on the corner holding a bucket begging. Our country is financially blessed but, at the same time, financially strapped mostly because of our worldly desires. When the congregation is educated to realize both the obligation and the “second blessing” of tithing, it will fully embrace the concept and practice. No begging will be necessary.

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