The Baptist Digest

Being Found Faithful In Our Giving

October 2011

One of the areas that I was always being asked about when I was a pastor was the responsibility of stewardship. I got those typical “I don’t believe tithing is a New Testament practice” comments. I was often asked whether we should tithe on the gross or the net income. I was asked if giving to a Christian cause outside of the local church was a proper use of the tithe. I also learned that preaching on giving is not popular with most congregations. Even though I preached on giving only once or twice a year, I would still hear the comment, “the preacher is always asking for money.”

Over the years I have developed a strong personal doctrine of stewardship. It started in the early days of my marriage. I grew up in a denomination that had no clear teaching on stewardship. Her parents had taught my wife, who grew up as a Southern Baptist, from an early age about the responsibility of giving. She also heard a consistent message from her church about the biblical teachings on stewardship.

When we first married and went to seminary, we were making very little money. I knew that we needed to give to the church. So, I asked my wife what she thought about the subject. She gave a simple answer, “We will tithe, of course.” Since then we have consistently tithed and even learned the joy of giving an offering as well.

Through study of scripture and listening to the wisdom of pastors that I respected, I have arrived at several convictions:

1. Tithing is a biblical mandate in both the Old and New Testaments. I see it taught clearly in the teachings of Jesus (Luke 11:42). It is never negated.

2. Tithing is giving to the church not to other Christian causes as worthy as those causes might be.

3. Joy is the predominant emotion for a New Testament giver. Christ has redeemed us and we should joyfully give to the church that He established.

4. Liberality, not legalism, should be the standard of Christian giving. The tithe is the beginning point of giving, not the legal boundary of giving. This really ends most discussions about tithing on the gross or the net.

5. Giving is measured by sacrifice, not amount. Jesus praised the widow with her “mite” instead of the Pharisees with their great wealth (Luke 21:1-4).

6. Missional giving should be a goal for every Christian and church. We are called to take the gospel to the world. That will take our giving to get it done.

7. Christian stewardship is not only about money. It is a lifestyle issue.

Stewardship will be one of the great challenges of the churches of Nebraska and Kansas in coming years as we fulfill our responsibility to reach our “Judea.”

It is my prayer that we will not abandon solid biblical teaching, but that we will be found faithful in our giving.

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I thought you might like this column I read at baptistdigest.com. "Being Found Faithful In Our Giving" One of the areas that I was always being asked about when I was a pastor was the responsibility of stewardship. I got those typical “I don’t believe tithing is a New Testament practice” comments. I was often asked whether we should tithe on the gross or the net income. I was asked if giving to a Christian cause outside of the local church was a proper use of the tithe. I also learned that preaching on giving is not popular with most congregations. Even though I preached on giving only once or twice a year, I would still hear the comment, “the preacher is always asking for money.” You can read the rest here: http://www.baptistdigest.com/archive/column/being_found_faithful_in_our_giving/