Tithing and Church Finance

How does St. Luke’s raise its finances? What does the Bible say about funding a church and its mission?

St. Luke’s is funded by Freewill Offerings

Although a small amount comes from hall use license fees, most of our funds come from the tithes and offerings of members. The Diocese does not fund the running of local parishes nor the provion and upkeep of the buildings. These are usually a local responsibility. Neither does St. Luke’s hold fetes or other money raising functions.

The main reason for this is to preserve the ;limited energies of our small numbers for outreach and Christian growth. It also well reflect6s the Biblical priorities. This does not mean that fetes etc are sinful, just that we would find them a distraction, and that the commitment o tithe is all that is needed to fund a Christian church ministry. The larger the congregation, the more Christian workers can be employed and the more outreach and growth activities can be planned and carried through.

The Bible on Tithes and Offerings

The Law of Moses: Deuteronomy taught that the “firstfruits” and a tenth of income should be treated as set apart for the costs of ministry.

The Prophets (such as Malachi ch 3) treated the absence of tithing as “robbing God”; and if people would put god to the test and tithe, even despite financial pressures, they would see God open the windows of heaven to provide abundant material resources for the needs of his church and of his people.

The Writings (esp Psalms and Proverbs, Ezra / Nehemiah, 1 and 2 Chronicles0 emphasised the value of fulfilling one's commitments to the Lord.

The Gospels brought words from Jesus that echo the sentiments of Malachi. In Matthew 6 we read that if we seek first the priorities of God’s reign and of his righteousness, without giving in to anxiety, then all the material things we need will be added unto us.

The Epistles such as 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 explain the dynamics of generous living and giving. See other article on this page.)

In Malachi 3: 8-12 we read, “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me…. In tithes and offerin gs… Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse… and see if I will not open the floodgatres of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have enough room for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your filed will not cast their fruit”, says the LORD Almighty. “Then all the nations of te world will call you blessed, for ypours will be a delightful land…”

Financial Investment in the Kingdom (2 Corinthians 8 and 9)

1 God works through Leverage.
He works through seed to produce fruit. He operates through the sowing of financial seed.

2 God is Practical, so He uses Money.
God has always expected to pay for his own work.

3 God works through Generosity
Giving ought to be proportionate to one's means.Many people have given beyond their means. First they gave of themselves.Christian giving is done from the heart, not grudgingly.

4 Giving which is Christian seems Expensive
(1) The OT minimum in the Era of the Law was 10% and the first fruits
(2) That related to their gratitude for the Exodus and their choice by God, as a nation, to be the son of the Father: Ex 4 Israel my Son. Malachi speaks of robbing God. It also speaks of the putting to the test of God's promise greatly to bless the faithful tither.

5 Christian Giving works like Farming
The labourer is worthy of his hire. Seeds of generous giving result in a harvest of righteous. Generous material giving leads to spiritual harvest

6 Christian Giving is a Grateful Act of Worship
Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift. Those who are blessed by receiving will have gratitude to God.

7 God's Grace leads to our response of faith. Part of that faith is expressed in giving.
God is into “bungy-jumped” into earth in the person of Jesus, to save us from being condemned for our sin. He achieved this as the Cross. .He has raised us into relationship with him. In al the circumstances of our life he comes with us through the valleys to provide and give new hope.

2 Corinthians 9: 6-15

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work… Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God…

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

Lindsay Johnstone

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