“God doesn't need our money; He already owns it all. But when we willingly set aside the first part of our income for the local church, our hearts will be turned toward Him. (Matthew 6:21)
Know Giving, Know Life
Giving is the antidote for materialism. The Bible says that by giving generously we are able to "take hold of the life that is truly life." You aren't really living unless you are freely giving. (I Timothy 6:19)
The above is an exact copy and paste from a local church's website (see link below, if interested). Let’s examine this one part at a time so we can get the full scope of things.
“God doesn't need our money; He already owns it all.” If God owns it all, then why does my local church need God’s money? Is the local church God? If God is the church, then why doesn’t the local church already have God’s money? Why do they need to get it from me? I know why…it’s because the local church is not God and they do need my money. They have programs to support and salaries to pay; why won’t they just admit it?
We should willingly set aside first part of our income for the local church? That’s not what the Holy Scriptures say. The great Apostle Paul said that “hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor (2 Tim 2:6).” Whose labor? Who should be first? The hardworking farmer! Why? Because the farmer earned it and did all the work! Does God get up at 6:45 every morning do my job for me? No, I do that. I work hard to support my family and to pay the bills. Yes, God had a hand in getting my job and I’m very thankful for it, but I’m the one with sweat on my brow everyday. Thank you, Lord!
So, “when we willingly set aside the first part of our income for the local church, our hearts will be turned toward Him?“ No, this is twisting of Scripture. Is the local church considered to be God now? When did this happen?
Jesus, who is God in the flesh, said “For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me! (Matt 25:35-40)’”
It’s when you give to the poor and needy saints that you give to God, not the local church building fund or institution.
The Scripture of Matthew 6:21 actually states, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be (NLT).” The problem is, that this verse is not talking about tithing. The topic of Matthew 6:21 is referring to loyalty, your devotion and your heart attitude, not tithing.
Matthew 6:21 is really saying, “Your heart will always be where your treasure is (CEV).” In other words, are you going to invest in God’s kingdom where things are eternal or are you investing in things that are earthly that are temporary? How do I invest in God’s kingdom? Is it by giving 10% of my income to the local church? Is the local church God’s kingdom?
The answer is “No.” The local church is not the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is not anything man can see with his eyes. The kingdom of God is in you, the believer (Luke 17:20). Jesus said, “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven (Matt 19:21).” “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God (Luke 12:21).” Trust me, this church won’t want to be called the “storehouse” after that verse. If you want to be rich, be rich in a relationship with God.
If you want to invest into the kingdom of God, invest in people by building relationships. Do not fully invest everything, or even 10% of what you earn, exclusively into your local church.
What do you think would please God more?
1. $1000 given to a poor family to help with food and necessities.
2. $1000 given to white-suited, jet-flying rich TV evangelists ministry.
3. $1000 given to buy new sound equipment, the building fund or budget for the church.
4. $1000 tithed to the Mercedes driving pastor of a mega-church.
Why would you want to make the church and pastor rich? Don’t you know that Jesus said, “It's terribly hard for rich people to get into God's kingdom (Luke 18:24). Even the very first mention of giving a tenth in the bible was Abram, who said to the king of Sodom after taking war booty from his enemies, “I solemnly swear to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, ‘I am the one who made Abram rich (Genesis 14:22-23).” If you want to be rich, be rich in faith, not in money. Wanting to rich in money or wealth, is the root of all kinds of evil.
In detail, Jesus said, “Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? (James 2:5).” Please take the Bible’s advice, give to the poor and needy in your congregation, not solely to your local church building.
Know Giving, Know Life
Giving is the antidote for materialism? What is materialism? Materialism is the focus on possessions or the devotion to material wealth and possessions at the expense of spiritual or intellectual values.
1 Timothy 6:9-10 Paul writes, “people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows (NLT).”
Who is the one asking for the money I earn every week? Who is one who has online giving made easy? Who is it that gives a little “tithe sermon" every single week? Who is it that never fails to pass the plate or bucket to collect tithes and offerings on Sunday morning? Who are the ones who try to guilt trip or coax the members into tithing every church service? Who is it who depends upon getting money from the church members every week to pay the light bill, meet the budget and staff salaries?
Why isn’t the local church more concerned with my prayer life or my spiritual relationship with God rather than money?
Maybe it’s because the local church is focusing “on possessions or the devotion to material wealth and possessions at the expense of spiritual or intellectual values.”
Seems to me that it is the local church who is the one focusing on material wealth, not the members who attend it! It sounds to me that the only antidote for materialism in the local church is Christ! If the local ‘tithe’ supported churches would focus more on preaching the gospel of Christ, then material wealth would seem to fade away as the focus is directed towards Christ.
The only remedy for this greed in local churches like this one is failure. They should realize that they need to stop relying on people‘s incomes and start relying on God‘s provision. They need to start worrying about preaching the gospel, teaching others with proper Scriptural doctrine and sending out more teachers, evangelist and such. They need to insist on the significance of people over the need for money and relationship over politics in the local church. If God wants that church to have money, God will provide. If God wants that pastor to be there, God will provide. If God wants a special presentation or program, God will provide. Aren‘t you living by faith and not by sight? Or, are you living by fear and by your own might?
“Do not worry about everyday life; whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing (Luke 12:22-23).”
“You aren't really living unless you are freely giving?” They quoted 1 timothy 6:19. What does that verse say?
1 Timothy 6:19 “By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.” By doing what?
In just two verses before in 1 Timothy 6:17-18, this is what it says we must do, which is:
1. Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud.
2. Teach those who are rich in this world not to trust in their money.
3. Tell them to use their money to do good.
4. They should be rich in good works.
5. Be generous to those in need.
6. Always being ready to share with others.
Will the rich listen to us? Money is unreliable? If money is unreliable, then why does the church want it so desperately?
This verse is not talking about tithing. This verse is talking about giving; giving to those in need.
Please allow me to explain this. Tithing is not giving. Giving is giving and tithing is done by compulsion. Tithing is 10% or one-tenth; no more, no less. Tithing is an obligation; a duty to obedience to the Mosaic Law (Matt 23:23). Giving doesn’t have a certain amount of money involved or attached to it but it is the attitude of the heart and it is not given under compulsion (Mark 12:43). Tithing is tithing, and giving is giving; they are not the same thing!
Why should I do these things? For the future! What future? Your future in heaven with God so that “they may experience true life!” This verse is not talking about this earthly life, it’s talking about our life beyond this age when we get into the kingdom of heaven! Heaven is the true life, not earth!
We should be using our money to do good and be rich in good works. Is my local church in need? Is my local church poor? Do they trust in my income (money) to pay staff salaries? So, who’s trusting in money, the church or me? They should be rich in good works, not in wealth. It sounds as if the church needs my money more than I do.
What’s really confusing is that they use a tithing principle (first part of our income) in combination with a giving principle (our hearts will be turned toward Him). Then, they add the word “donate” to the web page on top of it all. A donation is usually a phrase that one uses to give or present something to a charitable organization or other good cause. It seems somewhat deceptive to just blend and mix it all together as if it’s all good without explaining the basic differences between Tithing and Giving. Should I expect any less from religious people’s ideas?
What is the local church?
1. Is the church God?
2. Is the church a “storehouse?”
3. Is the church a charitable organization?
4. Is the church a business or a “good cause?”
5. Is the local church an institution?
No, the local church should be none of these. The local church is the local body of believers. The local church are the Christ followers, the people of God. The building is not a local church. The church “building” is nothing more than a building! It’s a place to teach, learn about and worship God. The local church meets in the building, it’s not the other way around.
The church building is not a necessity, but a benefit. It is not an authority figure, but a place to serve the local body of Christ. The pastors are there to serve the body of believers, not the other way around. Who comes up this this craziness? The local church should not be a business or place of employment, but a place where local believers can meet and fellowship together; for free and without a cover charge. If money is needed for this, then God will provide the need by placing people in the church specifically for that purpose (2 Corinthians 8:2; 9:11-13).
Dear Christian church, please stop twisting Scripture and picking and choosing what you like and dislike from the Bible. Start teaching New Testament church doctrines which include grace giving principles and not Old Testament tithing principles. Please, stop lying to people and telling them that God will bless them 100-fold if they give their 10%. There’s absolutely no Scripture that supports or teaches that. We are blessed because we have faith in Christ, not because we give you money. Please, stop telling people that they should write out that tithe check first before they pay any other bills. That’s irresponsible and terrible stewardship principles. Stop lying to people by telling them that if they didn’t give 10%, that their other 90% will be cursed. That is a curse of the Mosaic Law and Christians are not under the Law of Moses. Christ redeemed us from the law and became the curse for us.
You should not prevent people from church membership or keep them out of a certain ministry because they are not a "faithful tither." This is all wrong. My giving is between me and God and its none of your D#$% business!
If you ask me, churches or pastors who support this kind of extortion of the church members should be removed from their positions as a leader. If you are a pastor and hold that position solely for the sake of making money, you should repent, be removed from your position and ashamed of yourself. Your pay should be the privilege to preach and teach the good news of Christ. We should be giving to the poor, needy and the hurting in our congregations as taught in the New Testament. Churches should stop ignoring their own people in the local church instead of reaching out to the "community" first. This is wrong. Jesus said that when we give to the poor saints, and “least of my brethren” is giving to him, not the heathen community outside the local church. Of course, reaching the world with the gospel is a priority as well, but you don't neglect your own church members for the sake of the world....who mostly hates Jesus and the church anyway!
The Treasure Test
An Eternal Investment
(Church link: http://www.treeoflifechurch.org/donate/)