St. Timothy's United Methodist Church
to be Christ in the community...teaching, caring, growing
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St. Timothy's United Methodist Church to be Christ in the community...teaching, caring, growing
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Committing to Christ through 2008 and Beyond
To Tithe or Not to Tithe? The following quotes are taken from Holy Smoke! Whatever Happened to Tithing? by Herbert Mather and J. Clif Christopher. (Discipleship Resources, 2000). For more inspiration, go to http://www.gbod.org/stewardship. The discipline of tithing is a blessed gift to help individual Christians order their entire economic life" (page 17). "When giving is freely chosen, it is a beautiful human response to grace" (page 18). The tithe is not [only] a way to give one tenth of our lives and our resources to God, but a discipline to remind us and enable us to allow God to reign over one hundred percent of our lives and our substance" (page 69). "Tithing is a spiritual discipline that helps the tither grow in grace while at the same time making available funds to feed the hungry, heal the sick, and provide shelter for the homeless" (page 81). Frequently Asked Questions About Tithing Q. What is the tithe? A. The tithe is one tenth of that which God gives to us. Q. Is it biblical to tithe? A. Biblically, tithing can be understood as a grateful response to God’s gracious provisions for life. From a Hebrew perspective, it was also thought to be an obligation. Scriptures which are important references on tithing from the Old Testament include Genesis 14:20, Genesis 28:22, Leviticus 27:30, Deuteronomy 14:22, and Malachi 3:10. Important Scriptures from the New Testament which affirm and support tithing as an acceptable response to God’s faithfulness include 1 Corinthians 16:2 and 2 Corinthians 9:6-12. Q. Does our denomination (The United Methodist Church) support tithing? While the concept of tithing may not have been taught systematically in the UMC and while the average giving of United Methodists has been around two percent, at the 2000 General Conference, a resolution was adopted that set “as a high priority for the next eight years a program for teaching and preaching for spiritual growth in giving, with an emphasis of setting tithing as a goal for every person in The United Methodist Church. Additionally, from the 2004 General Conference the 2004 Book of Discipline, Paragraph 629.5, affirm that local churches are to be educated that tithing is the minimum goal of giving in The United Methodist Church. Q. Should I tithe on my gross or net income? A. I do not find a definitive answer to this question; so I believe each person must discern an answer which meets the intention of the heart. *I’d love to be in conversation with you about your spiritual growth. If you would like to talk, please call 281-550-9840. Blessings on your spiritual journey, Pastor BJ
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