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Alms, Offerings, Tithes
As we approach St. John’s UCC’s Autumn Giving Campaign giving to the church
takes a prominent place in our thoughts and prayers. So I offer some comment
about giving that I pray will help you in deciding what you want to give
back to God.
The Holy Bible has many commandments and instructions from God about giving.
In the Scriptures we find there are three types of giving to church and
charity: alms, offerings and tithes.
Alms are the charitable gifts we make. According to Strong’s
Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible the word “alms” does not appear in
the Bible until the New Testament. Alms are charitable gifts we make from
our abundance to help needy people and agencies like the United Way and the
Red Cross.
In the Acts of the Apostles 3:2 we read of a lame man who would be laid at a
gate of the temple “so he could ask for alms.” In the Gospel of Luke Jesus
teaches, “Sell your possessions and give alms.” In other words we give alms
from our abundance. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:2-4 that when we give alms
we should not make a big deal about it, but rather do it in secret, “do not
let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” This statement of
Jesus is the source of the idea in our churches that what is given to the
church is a private secret matter between you and God.
At St. John’s United Church of Christ you have been very generous in giving
alms. The Good Samaritan Fund, Food Pantry, and Saturday Breakfast programs
are some of the ways we’ve given alms and helped many needy people. When we
send money and goods to victims of natural disasters like hurricanes,
tsunamis, and earthquakes, we are giving alms. St. John’s UCC gives alms of
thousands of dollars every year … you have been a wonderful blessing in many
lives.
The Bible does not mandate an amount to give in alms.
Offerings are “special” or “dedicated” gifts to the church. For
example, in the Old Testament we read of special offerings that individuals
and the church make for sin. Sin offerings are described in detail in the
Law of Moses, Exodus 29:14 is one example. Today a sin offering is part of
repentance – the change we make in life after confession – we give an
offering in thanksgiving and joy for God’s great forgiveness.
Offerings are also the way churches are built and improved. In Exodus 25:1-9
we read of offerings dedicated to build God’s Temple. A Capital Campaign is
one way receive these offerings. In my time as pastor at St. John’s some of
our offerings have added an elevator and made our restrooms handicapped
accessible; added a room that is now our Food Pantry; added our audio-video
system; purchased new Bibles and Hymnals; remodeled and redecorated the
Lady’s Guild Room and Fellowship Hall.
With such dedicated offerings secrecy of gifts is not a biblical mandate.
The Christ Candle, piano lamp and memorial garden are examples of offerings
to the church given in memory of a loved one. Endowments to the church
Memorial Fund and Scholarship Fund are examples of offerings made in memory
or honor of a loved one.
The Bible does not mandate an amount to give in offering.
Tithe first appears in Genesis 14:20 where in thanks Abram gave to
God’s priest Melchizedek “one-tenth of everything.” In the Law of Moses
tithing is a mandated commandment of God to give one-tenth of our “first
fruits” (Ex. 22:29; 23:19). First fruits as we read in Exodus are the best
we have to give. We tithe when we give back to God 10% of our income to the
church; not what is left over at the end of the month, but our first fruits,
the best we have to give.
Our tithe pays not for the improvement of but the maintenance of your church
building – like the boiler we recently repaired; painting the church inside
and out; repair and protect our stained glass windows; pay utility bills,
insurance, payroll taxes, staff salaries; purchase supplies and ministry
materials for worship like sheet music, DVDs, and Sunday school.
If we do not tithe to support the church there will be no alms or offerings.
If we do not tithe the alms of Food Pantry, Saturday Breakfast and Good
Samaritan Fund will cease. If we do not tithe the offerings we make to the
community in the use of our church by Scouts, 12-Step programs, Child Abuse
Prevention Council, and others will cease. If we do not tithe, weddings and
funerals will not happen at our church.
We like to think our tithe is secret, “just between me and God”, but
biblically there is no secret about tithing because tithing is a commandment
of God to all believers and members of the congregation. We are commanded to
give back to God 10% of the best we have.
At St. John’s United Church of Christ we are blessed to have very dedicated
members and friends take on the challenge of planning and managing the first
pledge drive at St. John’s in recent history. They have done this because
they love our church and believe in its mission.
I am certain you, too, love the church and believe in its mission so as you
hear announced in church “Cluster Gatherings” sign up for one held at a home
of one of our sisters and brothers. At the gathering learn of our church’s
financial position and your vital part in maintaining St. John’s UCC of
Owosso.
After you meet and learn at the gathering, go home to pray and discuss what
you want to give back to God and make a confidential pledge to St. John’s
UCC.
When you hear personal testimonies from our members who tithe and you hear
of the blessing they receive; give thought and prayer to what you want to
give back to God. If you do not yet tithe consider how you can come closer
to receiving that blessing.
Many if not most of St. John’s members do not tithe; that is true of almost
every church in the USA. That is why almost every church in our nation is
struggling financially. One of the last great spiritual battles each of us
face is our priority about money. In the New Testament Jesus talks more
about money than anything except God’s kingdom. It is in our tithe that the
church of Jesus Christ can fulfill the first petition in our Lord’s Prayer
that God’s kingdom may come “on earth as it is in heaven.”
I pray this has been of some help in your journey and decision of how best
to give back to God through St. John’s United Church of Christ. In my own
journey I did not tithe most of my life; when I attended church I would put
a $10 or $20 bill in the collection plate and feel pretty self-satisfied.
Upon answering God’s call to ministry I began to tithe. I believe tithing is
a main reason I’ve received so many blessings, both spiritually and
materially. It is in tithing that I have experienced the wonder and
fulfillment of Jesus’ promise and teaching that it is more blessed to give
than to receive.
May our church prosper, may we continue to honor and praise God through our
pledge drive this fall, and may we all experience the fulfillment of God’s
great blessings.
Your servant and brother in Christ,
pastor john
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