Is the Mission of Your Church Worth Your Financial Support?

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here are two significant places in the Bible where we are given a picture of God’s people publically bringing their offerings to Him for His purposes.

The first is in the book of Exodus.  After leaving Egypt the Hebrew people are told God will be their God and they will be His people.  They were overjoyed.  The holy God, creator of the universe had chosen them over all the other nations of the world.  In addition He promised to dwell among them.  They were to build a tabernacle, a place where they might worship God, learn His ways and pray for His help.  Then, like an avalanche, the people began bringing offerings of the materials needed to build this place of worship.  They were so eager and excited that eventually Moses had to tell them to stop.

 So Moses gave the command, and this message was sent throughout the camp: “Men and women, don’t prepare any more gifts for the sanctuary. We have enough!” So the people stopped bringing their sacred offerings. ⁷ Their contributions were more than enough to complete the whole project. - Exodus 36:6-7 (NLT)

The second public offering by God’s people takes place in the book of Acts, chapter four.  The church was very young and had just survived its first round of persecution from the Jewish authorities who arrested Peter and John.  After the apostles’ release, the young church gathered and prayed asking God to enable them to continue speaking His word with “great boldness.”  The place they were meeting shook and they were empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue the mission.  Right after this we are told how they supported that mission…

There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them ³⁵ and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. ³⁶ For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas…. ³⁷ He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.                                                                 - Acts 4:34-37 (NLT)

This is why tithing it not commanded in the New Testament.  The hearts of God’s people were enveloped by God’s mission and as a result they gave. They gave not because they were commanded, they gave beyond a tithe and they gave with joy to support the work God wanted to do through them. 

God has also chosen and given a mission to His people through their local church.  The mission statement of my church, San Dimas Wesleyan is:  Working together to bring those far from God near Him thru Christ.  We are striving to become a church where Christians are being taught God’s word, growing up and becoming confident in their faith;  a church that seeks opportunities to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with friends and neighbors and sees many come to salvation; a church that ministers to families by strengthening marriages and empowering parents with godly wisdom.  This is what our church working on and working toward.

So let me speak bluntly.  As with many churches, our summer has been financially difficult.  Our projected tithes and offerings are currently $3100 below our operating need (this is after cutting our budget by $16,000 in June).  Some of our pledges for our the Landscape Project have not yet come in.  I do not report this to cause guilt, but to make the church family aware of the reality. 

Christ has given His mission your church, wherever it may be because you are the people of God.  He has left it in your hands to support or to neglect.  I pray your heart will be enveloped by the mission of God and you will give to support the mission of your church (which is Christ's church) great joy.