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.

     Is there any evidence in the New Testament that the giving Paul asked for was meant to continue past him picking up the funds?

Sincerely,
The Buck Stops Here

Dear The Buck Stops Here,

1 Cor 16:1-2 was a collection taken up specifically for the case of benevolence, but it is also the only Bible example we have of how to collect funds when the church has a need.

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 are those?!”).  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).

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.

[This question is a follow-up to “In A Bond Bind”]

You said it that the weekly collection was the only biblical way for a church to raise funds. Then you said that selling bonds was the same as getting a loan (though it really is not). You then said a church needed to use wisdom whether it should borrow money from a bank. Can you please show how your first point relates to the last? If the collection is the only authorized way, where does wisdom enter the ball game?

Sincerely,
007

Dear 007,

A bond is exactly the same as getting a loan.  In finance, a bond is an instrument of indebtedness of the bond issuer to the holders. It is a debt security, under which the issuer owes the holders a debt and, depending on the terms of the bond, is obliged to pay them interest.

There is a difference between a church borrowing money and a church raising money.  When a church borrows money, their income hasn’t changed – they just have an obligation to pay the borrowed money back, typically with interest, at a later date.  It is the same as when someone borrows money to buy a car.  The borrowing requires them to raise money eventually to pay back the loan… the loan doesn’t change their income.

This is where the real issue is.  The church is only given one example of raising money for its work – through a collection of the saints on the first day of the week (1 Cor 16:1-2).  The congregation must then be wise about how they steward that money.  Acquiring, or not acquiring, loans to purchase a church building (or other major expenses) is part of that stewardship.

Would it be okay for a church to sell bonds to raise needed money?

Sincerely,
007

Dear 007,

The Bible only provides one way for the church to garner funds – a collection made every Sunday from amongst its own members (1 Cor 16:1).  Having said that, the argument for selling bonds is that it is no different than getting a loan from a bank to purchase a building.

The general Bible principle is that a congregation shouldn’t raise funds by any method other than a weekly collection from its members.  A bond is a form of loan, and it is the idea of borrowing money that causes so much debate.  Every congregation must use their own wisdom in deciding if, how, and when to borrow money.